The groups set out each day in order with the slowest first and the fastest bringing up the rear, with the idea that everyone should arrive at the top of each climb around the same time.
The Muskateers set off and soon passed the slowest group, so far so good.
D – road, lovely! Then a BIG BANG!
Aramis’s inner tube exploded and blew the tyre off the rim! Athos (me) changed the tyre and Woody came to their aid with the track pump. We had now been passed by both the slowest and the fastest groups.
Back at the back, the pro-rider rode with us, cutting the wind and teaching peleton etiquette. It was a lovely peleton performance from everybody, sweet and looking good. The pro-rider was very impressed. Then Neil picked up a slow puncture. Fast pit stop/tyre change and off again! Then we managed to miss a turning and took a 20km detour! Ops!
Still with 100km to go with small cols ahead, bellies full of fromage, jambon, Coke and enthusiasm we cruised on. The wind was getting stronger and stronger but we still ploughed ahead. With The Mill power leading the group; hauling that Pà10 into a town with live music in the square where the fast group was just finishing lunch.
The Musketeers, with Tracey and Ben, decide to keep their lead and plough on after just a swift drink. We rode along the valley, where Chopper and I were having difficulties, and were in danger of bonking (see previous explanation) we stopped and emptied the contents of our pockets into our mouths including gels, flapjacks, bars, honey and sweets!
The road was lovely, narrow and winding; descending down a gorge you could smell the lavender just starting to flower – the aroma of Provence!
Alone, the brave Mill heroes motored along the valley where the duo-ton sped along fuelled by the contents of their pockets. We caught up with Neil and Dave and we all rode on together. We tore up the road for the last 26km racing to Vaison La Romaine.
Mont Ventoux’s lunar landscape looming ahead giving us a taste of what's to come. The top is treeless; it was stripped by Napoleon to build ships who wanted the best timber for his Navy. It was closed today as it has high wind speeds at the top (highest recorded is 193km/hr).
It is Midsummer today. On this night nobody can complain about music being played too loud. Live music plays in every square and we all walked to a mediaeval fort on the hill.
What about everyday life for the Mill Heroes? Well it is fromage jambon all the way! And Choppers linguistic skills have come on a long way since last year:
Charcuterie
Boulangerie
Rouge
Fromage
Mange mon Chapeau and/or Chat
Monsieur – used for both genders in place of please!
Our domestic life is perfect harmony as we both have very tidy tendencies! Only messy people have an issue with this!
We do our chores as soon as we get in to the hotel, I do the laundry and Chopper makes the beds. Heaven!
It is very windy so our laundry blew off across the lawn. Chopper is missing his best G-string -if anyone has seen it please let us know!
Mont Ventoux lies in wait, it is Lance Armstrong’s most feared climb. Tomorrow we will take it.
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