Banne, Le Vanne, Villeforte

Today we set out for a 100K day in the south of France with out new riding group of 6 (Bill, Sue, Guy, me, Julie and Alan).

I set/marked the ride on our fine michelin map with my trusty hi-lighter - it cruising along the finest "green" roads (scenic) in a loop that would have us capturing 62 miles.  The group soon realized that the road would traverse up to the highest point in the region (1500 meters) to Pic di Cassini.  Yeah...I know how to pick them.

It was about 10:30am when we motivated to get on our bikes and leave the chateau.  We would decend off Le Mazel for what would feel like 30 minutes, shooting some magnificent river gorges...spinning along side 4 germans who would pace us 20K's along the steep rocky ledges overlooking the most peaceful river spotted with towns that looked to have existed forever.

Lunch was starting to nag and we knew with it nearly noon, the next town would need to fill us (as many shops close for good at 12:30pm).  At the intersection to town we bumped up (quite literally) into some hunters cleaning and skinning its significant and quite large kills (2 huge wild boars with tusks and all).  It was about the time I could start to smell them as they doused them in hot water and was firing up the blow torch...I pushed on ahead of my group into town before my lunch was spoiled.

We ate at the fabulous boulangerie then made the turn toward the big Col near Pic di Cassini.

Wow, for what was not to be a climbing day...WE went big!  We arrived back at the Chateau around 6pm, where my team mates loaded with beer and I began rapidly to put back calories as I was in deficit for the day.

We had an awesome meal cooked by a local chef that filled my belly. We stayed up until about midnight playing a really silly game called asshole curtosy of Theo (who is just the funniest "real" dude I know).  I think Guy winning as president made for a rather humorous adventure that had us all in stitches.

Total Stats:
Weather: Sunny and Warm (high 80's)
Time: 5 hours
Distance: 65 miles
Elevation: 6450 feet
Happy Factor: 9

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