Monday, May 8, 2023

Day 6 - Nimes to Montpellier (May 8, 2023)

Happy birthday to you Marc!


We used Google maps routing today, which took us into each little village. So many cute stops. 

Nimes has Roman structures and a gorgeous church. 

Today was a national holiday (Victory Day), and so many shops were closed, but not all. The roads were quiet, which is good, because they are narrow. 


Between the cities today we had mixed riding, some D highways, some gravel, but mostly amazing paved smooth well signed bike paths. 


One turn took us down this road (below), with goats looking curiously at us on one side, and an ancient graveyard on the other. It turned into pretty tough gravel, more like river rock, but for a very short time. Sometimes pushing is the safest option. 



Of course there was some concerning bits... 
(I just love the ! sign, it really speaks all languages, doesn't it?)



We had a few hills to start the day, but lots of lovely flat, safe riding all the way to Montpellier. 


The tent is up. 



The birthday dinner (Marc made a great salad and noodles with broccoli!) has been eaten. No cake, but great fresh melon to end a hot day, and tomorrow we take the first day off, and explore Montpellier and celebrate another wonderful year. 



Stats for the day. 
Over 360 kms and 3000+ m of elevation cumulative, that's a wrap for "Stage 1" of the Solby Tour de France 






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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 9, 2023 at 3:53 AM

    Wow- what a great start! Sounds like a little bit of everything in terms of road conditions and a few detours to get a snack. Warm showers, hotels, campsites, a few hilly moments, some cool history and French villages, and inmates- what else could you ask for! Enjoy your ‘day off’ and look forward to Part 2 of the TDF- M&C style! Bruni

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  2. AnonymousMay 9, 2023 at 9:58 AM

    Happy Birthday 🎈🎂 Marc !! Wow nice bike routes, that is a fantastic picture of Marc with the beautiful Feild behind him. Have fun exploring Montpellier !!!
    N.

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  3. AnonymousMay 10, 2023 at 7:12 PM

    Bonjour Carolyn & Marc…Nice way to spend a birthday Marc..riding the backroads in the south of France with Carolyn..Touché!
    Your but 70km to Pezenas..so close..40km to Sete..a walk on the Promenade ..and about 100km from my favourite village called Roquebrun..a wonderful little eatery called Le Petite Nice for a weekday lunch..afterwards a hike up the hill…my sojourn is January..so May would be much warmer…I will follow your ‘Solby Tour’..in my mind’s eye…saviour the people & the scenery..enjoy the cuisine…lunch is my treat for you both back at La Pardis sometime this summer to hear about your trip..

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