Tues 26th Tarascon DAY 3

Today has been a quite relaxed one with only 247 miles covered down the West side of the Rhone. Stunning views and great sweeping bends to glide around. We did a bit of motorway round Lyon and managed to avoid rain but the joy of all today was riding through all the Cotes du Rhone vineyards with all their names in huge white letters painted on concrete slabs high up on the slopes. We also rode through avenues of trees which were cool as well as very pretty.

Tree avenues in the Rhone valley

Stopped for lunch at a really down-and-out cafe on the side of the road. Wasn't too bad but be promised that the evening would have to be really splendid to compensate. From after lunch (sorry.....I mean l'apres midi, of course) there was a lot of traffic including huge lorries going top speed. WE are the very slowest motorbike in France including the little mosquito-like ones that zoom past at full speed in the traffic in towns. Gotta be careful 'cos the arrive before you hear them: all ridden by young French boys certainment.

We arrived in Tarascon where it just started to spit with rain. The previous town was really pretty and we wished that we were staying there but we went over the bridge (over the Rhone) and were confronted by the Castle and huge Church. Tomorrow were off to Avignon - mainly to stand on the bridge - and then we're coming back here to visit the Castle. Our hotel is basic but they are mega-friendly and our evening meal was amazing at the Restaurant du Chateau. We sat outside in the warm S. France air and had a really civilised meal with a demi-carafe of wine EACH and 3 courses!

Just before arriving in Tarascon (which is south of Avignon, if you are looking on a map) we stopped for a Panache in Viviers but the town was SO very pretty that we went for a walk.

Debbie in Viviers - quite a steep hill tho'

At last our first washed-out clothes have dried on our travelling clothes line and the second lot stretches between the lights above the bed! The room cleaners will be impressed.

Bike has now had two nights in a garage - and another tonight - and it is behaving itself well but must be a little cross by being overtaken by everything else.

Debbie map reads and I just go where she tells me - the deal seems to be that if she does that then I can swoop around the occasional corner and then leave a few miles for her to recover before having a bit of fun at the next good bend. That said we STILL get overtaken just after one of the aforementioned corners having been followed by an impatient biker (and quite a number of cars too) who has to get somewhere before anyone else in the world.