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Post by Katharine on Jun 16, 2009 19:13:59 GMT -5
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Post by PariS on Jun 16, 2009 19:48:32 GMT -5
Loved the article, Katharine! It does sound intriguing--let me know if you decide to go for it.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 16, 2009 20:33:00 GMT -5
I did that a few years ago - just be careful what part of the summer, because it can be a killer when it's really hot weather. It is, however, my favorite way to see the French countryside. (I went with Bike Riders Tours in Boston, whose area manager for France is - or at the time was - an American who is married to a French woman, and who lives in Burgundy.)
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Post by Katharine on Jun 16, 2009 21:29:30 GMT -5
Annette, my husband is not going to go with me. Are you game to go it with me?
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Post by Anne on Jun 17, 2009 2:30:33 GMT -5
I agree with Becky, heat can be scorching in the summer . Last summer we vacationned at the foot of Mont Ventoux, a heaven for serious bikers, and I really felt for them when I saw them pedalling on the hills in early afternoons .
Many areas in Provence are quite hilly, like the Lubéron, so if you are not a trained biker you must be careful about which area you select .
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Post by PariS on Jun 17, 2009 12:34:20 GMT -5
Katharine, it sure sounds tempting! But after hearing about the heat, the idea is kind of losing it's luster...  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 17, 2009 23:29:46 GMT -5
No no no - don't let the prospect of heat keep you from going, just go in late May or September/October  , instead of in the middle of summer (when all the Parisians will be flocking to the area in any event, and you won't be able to get a table at that cute little bistro . . .  ) Really, it's a wonderful way to see the area (the trip I did was in part in the Luberon); I just have vivid memories of riding up to (or at least trying to ride up to) Les Baux, in a Mistral, in scorching heat - I gave up very quickly and just walked the bike up the hill (because remember, the bastide towns are interesting, but the whole point was that they were at the tops of hills  ) |
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Post by Katharine on Jun 18, 2009 6:25:06 GMT -5
Becky, I want to applaud you for even trying to ride up to Les Baux. I would concede defeat before even trying and adopt a very cute swish of the hips as I pushed my bike straight up to the top! In early June the weather was lovely in Provence last summer. If I do this (I really just might  ), I would try to do it before the Paris part of my trip. I have a friend going with who rides for fun, so this is very appealing to her. We shall see. |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 18, 2009 10:15:23 GMT -5
Katherine, unless you're really set on going back to Provence, you could check out the bike trips in somewhat less challenging terrain. With the number of companies offering trips, there are things all around France (my favorite area for such trips is the Dordogne, which I've done twice on bicycles, but I also did the Loire and Burgundy at various points).
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Post by Katharine on Jun 18, 2009 11:06:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the insight, Becky. I may check out the Dordogne.
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Post by Jody on Jun 25, 2009 4:21:08 GMT -5
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Post by Shoesy on Jun 25, 2009 5:57:25 GMT -5
The only thought that's going through my mind is that I haven't ridden a bike since I was in high school, and that was many moons ago. How nice that you guys are into cycling?  |
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, instead of in the middle of summer (when all the Parisians will be flocking to the area in any event, and you won't be able to get a table at that cute little bistro . . . 
) Really, it's a wonderful way to see the area (the trip I did was in part in the Luberon); I just have vivid memories of riding up to (or at least trying to ride up to) Les Baux, in a Mistral, in scorching heat - I gave up very quickly and just walked the bike up the hill (because remember, the bastide towns are interesting, but the whole point was that they were at the tops of hills 
)
), I would try to do it before the Paris part of my trip. I have a friend going with who rides for fun, so this is very appealing to her. We shall see.
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha