Warm, Soft Mediterranean Air

Day 22 – Aix-en-Provence to Hyères, France — 63 miles

We had a nice evening in Aix-en-Provence. After a great dinner, we had an interesting conversation with a young, 23-year-old restaurant manager. With student protests and a divisive political climate in France right now, it was interesting to hear his first-hand perspective.

We were pretty excited about today’s ride, knowing we’d reach the Mediterranean—a big milestone on this tour. It was a full day of riding, taking us from congested roads with mixed traffic to secluded valleys, through some of the most beautiful vineyards and Sainte-Baume Natural Park. The riding through these areas was stunning, culminating in one of the best ascents and descents of the entire tour.

Unfortunately, the secluded road eventually fed into a 30-mile main road that we had to follow all the way to Hyères. It was a two-lane road with no shoulder and some crazy drivers who didn’t seem too concerned about cyclists. We do our best to plan routes that avoid roads like this, but sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and ride them. We saw other road cyclists on the same road, along with signs warning drivers to watch for cyclists and keep their distance, but that didn’t get many drivers to slow down.

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After a somewhat hair-raising finish, we arrived at a gorgeous seaside hotel, where we’ll spend a couple of nights soaking in the deep blue sea and that warm, soft Mediterranean air.

The landscape has completely changed. The distinctive landscapes of Ireland, Wales, England, Normandy, and central France are behind us. Now we’ll ride along the French Riviera toward Nice. It’s been one wild ride, to say the least.