Tour for Kids 2013 Grand Prize winner tackles the Mont Ventoux
by Dr. Gerard MacDonald, Tour for Kids Atlantic.
From the time we stepped off the high speed train in Avignon France, and were immediately welcomed by the high winds known as Le Mistral, one had a sense of a special week unfolding. Within minutes of heading northeast towards the village of Caromb where our Hosted Villa Le Jardin destination lay, the vista of magnificent Mount Ventoux also known as le geant or the Beast of Provence appeared. This became the constant reference point, not only commanding your visual field but enveloping your mind with fear, respect but also a longing to meet the challenge of scaling almost 23 km of 9% grade to the fabled 1912 m summit of this Tour de France legend.
The week was spent doing a series of exploratory sorties on smaller but indescribably beautiful terrains including vineyards around Bedoin and Crillon Le Brave, climbs of La Roque - Alric to a Benedictine monastery in Le Barroux to hear Gregorian chant at Vespers, and of course the the hair raising ride up the Gorge de la Nesque.
Interspersed with the rides, under the guidance of our delightful host Pasha we were treated to the best that the Vaucluse area has to offer including daily morning rations of melt-in-your-mouth croissants, fabulous produce, meats, olives and cheeses procured at the incredible morning markets in nearby villages. An excellent bottle of Cote de Rhone,Cote de Ventoux red or muscat from Beaumes de Venise could be had for a song,and many songs were indeed sung... Side trips by car included the the most beautiful villages in France, including stunning Gordes and the red ochre cliffs of Roussillon, the Roman ruins in Vaison-la-Romaine and a trip to Avignon to see the former Papal Palace dating back to the 13th century.
Our 250 year old spacious villa Le Jardin in Caromb was our refuge, complete with the conveniences of wifi, laundry ,pool but exuding a timelessness and charm. Steps away were the bakery,butcher and other shops with warm friendly service allowing us to dust off our high school French ! One evening was spent playing the ancient game of jeu de boules under the tutelage of Pasha replete with our daily apperitif of pastis and fresh goat cheese followed by Provencal lamb provided by in-house chef Helene. Magnifique!
Yet the mountain beckons and finally, on a windless, sunny warm Victory Day holiday, the climb from Bedoin to the summit of Mount Ventoux is consummated, capping off the trip of a lifetime.
How does one describe the perfect vacation for a cyclist and non cyclist party of ten in a week of glorious weather,scenery and hospitality in a charming village? You have just read it, mes amis.
Heartfelt thanks from my family and I to my friends at Ensemble Cycling and of course the Tour for Kids organization for making this experience possible.
A return to Provence - not a question of if but when.
A bientot!
From the time we stepped off the high speed train in Avignon France, and were immediately welcomed by the high winds known as Le Mistral, one had a sense of a special week unfolding. Within minutes of heading northeast towards the village of Caromb where our Hosted Villa Le Jardin destination lay, the vista of magnificent Mount Ventoux also known as le geant or the Beast of Provence appeared. This became the constant reference point, not only commanding your visual field but enveloping your mind with fear, respect but also a longing to meet the challenge of scaling almost 23 km of 9% grade to the fabled 1912 m summit of this Tour de France legend.
The week was spent doing a series of exploratory sorties on smaller but indescribably beautiful terrains including vineyards around Bedoin and Crillon Le Brave, climbs of La Roque - Alric to a Benedictine monastery in Le Barroux to hear Gregorian chant at Vespers, and of course the the hair raising ride up the Gorge de la Nesque.
Interspersed with the rides, under the guidance of our delightful host Pasha we were treated to the best that the Vaucluse area has to offer including daily morning rations of melt-in-your-mouth croissants, fabulous produce, meats, olives and cheeses procured at the incredible morning markets in nearby villages. An excellent bottle of Cote de Rhone,Cote de Ventoux red or muscat from Beaumes de Venise could be had for a song,and many songs were indeed sung... Side trips by car included the the most beautiful villages in France, including stunning Gordes and the red ochre cliffs of Roussillon, the Roman ruins in Vaison-la-Romaine and a trip to Avignon to see the former Papal Palace dating back to the 13th century.
Our 250 year old spacious villa Le Jardin in Caromb was our refuge, complete with the conveniences of wifi, laundry ,pool but exuding a timelessness and charm. Steps away were the bakery,butcher and other shops with warm friendly service allowing us to dust off our high school French ! One evening was spent playing the ancient game of jeu de boules under the tutelage of Pasha replete with our daily apperitif of pastis and fresh goat cheese followed by Provencal lamb provided by in-house chef Helene. Magnifique!
Yet the mountain beckons and finally, on a windless, sunny warm Victory Day holiday, the climb from Bedoin to the summit of Mount Ventoux is consummated, capping off the trip of a lifetime.
How does one describe the perfect vacation for a cyclist and non cyclist party of ten in a week of glorious weather,scenery and hospitality in a charming village? You have just read it, mes amis.
Heartfelt thanks from my family and I to my friends at Ensemble Cycling and of course the Tour for Kids organization for making this experience possible.
A return to Provence - not a question of if but when.
A bientot!
