Anduze - Mar/Apr '12
The first real part of our trip to discover the South of France, Chez Wills in Anduze became our home for 6 weeks.
Firstly, what a beautiful little gite this is - everything one could need. A nice walking route and so many amazing cycle friendly roads at the doorstep.
We mostly spent this time relaxing and enjoying the sun when it shone by eating outside and enjoying the wonderful views from the patio. Not only of the surrounding hills, but also the garden meticulously maintained by our host with a varied selection of lawns, orchard, flowering plants and trees.
It has to be said that March and April can still be a chilly time in this area though, but the temperature never stopped us from cycling or doing other things when we liked.
The gite was so nice thought, those 'other things' (cycling aside) didn't happen that often. However, the highlight of any trip to this region must be a hike around Gorge de la Jonte (Corniches du Causse Méjean I believe the route is called) - absolutely stunning. A trip to pretty little town of Nîmes is also highly recommended.
I'm sure our host wouldn't mind it being mentioned, that we also had an insight into how various practicalities work here in France, after all - that was part of the idea of the trip. Let's just say we now have a first hand experience of the interesting ways utilities are provided here! 
Saturday 3 March 2012
Views from the drive from Alpe d'Huez to Anduze. The scenic route, via the D526 & Suze-la-Rousse. Nice 
Saturday 3 March 2012
European hypermarkets: welcome to the promised land (of #Leffe) 
Sunday 4 March 2012
The bike assembly area at our gite in Anduze Now, time for a little shakedown ride in the spring sunshine
Wednesday 7 March 2012
'Le Gardon de Mialet' (aka the river) from this morning's ride. Plenty of other scenery but only made a single stop.
Thursday 8 March 2012
Random views from the roads (there's 2 routes to choose) between Anduze & Mende.
Saturday 10 March 2012
Pratiwi out on a leisurely ride somewhere around Anduze. Another tranquil day in the South of France
Saturday 10 March 2012
Post trundle lunch. Pratiwi's home made Ratatouille and a 4€ bottle of white in the sun. Ahhhh
Monday 12 March 2012
Beautiful ride today. After a week here passed my 1st Col sign. Many more impressive ones to come I hope!
Tuesday 13 March 2012
The view literally from our doorstep. All one can hear is the soft singing of birds and gentle trickle of a stream
Tuesday 13 March 2012
Butterfly shots from the Gite garden. The weather isn't even really warm yet, wonder what will appear when it is?
Wednesday 14 March 2012
Somewhere on the D133 West of Anduze. Nice ride in either direction. Hope you can tell the road gently winds away
Thursday 15 March 2012
Bees being busy in the orchard by our Gite.
Thursday 15 March 2012
Blossom in the gite's orchard, early evening. Beautiful place to be.
Saturday 17 March 2012
Hmmmmmmmmm... Cookies Pratiwi is so happy with her home made baking. Yeah, I won't complain either
Monday 19 March 2012
A couple of lizards appear to live under the stairs by the front door. They don't mind getting a close up either!
Monday 19 March 2012
Today's cycling shot: Pratiwi overlooking the river just outside Mialet. She quite liked it here
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Cleanest carpark I've ever seen: Jean Jaures in Nîmes. Cheap. Secure (need ticket to get back in). Uncrowded. Handy!
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Jardins de la Fontaine, Nîmes. Like the little canals. Tour Magne outside & inside stairs recently added, in 1843
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Maison Carrée, Nîmes. Pretty impressive from the outside but sadly only had a dodgy tourist movie showing inside 
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Nîmes has many nice squares. Here's a couple: Place de l’Horloge & outside the rather understated cathedral.
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Inside Nîmes Cathedral: a random local shared a tip to look at the back where the more colourful spaces were. Lucky!
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Lunch in one of the many lovely little squares you find in Nîmes. That you find all over Europe for that matter
Tuesday 20 March 2012
Simple home made dinner of leak, onion & chicken soup with garlic bread. Yuuuuum
Thursday 22 March 2012
This morning's ride to Col de Saint-Pierre. Beautiful smooth road. Tiny smash fest back home via Mialet felt good
Saturday 24 March 2012
Another beautiful ride up a cat 2 climb, then very technical descent and smash along this valley home. Perfect!
Sunday 25 March 2012
We took a little walk from the gite up to Chateau de Tornac today. Nice views but the chateau has seen better days
Tuesday 27 March 2012
An afternoon jaunt to Mont Aigoual. That building is a weather station that's open to visitors. Not right now though.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Stopped by the small village of Valleraugue. Very nice, but the river running through was the pick of the views.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Afternoon snacks... in a kindof arty way. Not quite the look I was after but tasted good all the same
Saturday 31 March 2012
Hmmmmm... guess what this is going to be!
Sunday 1 April 2012
A walk to Lacan from our doorstep. Anduze, our Gite & attached owners home (seen in the garden!) from the summit.
Wednesday 4 April 2012
Rainy day in the Gite.
Friday 6 April 2012
The Wisteria vine on our host's porch in beautiful bloom. The loud humming of bees it attracts is somehow soothing
Monday 9 April 2012
The village of Le Truel tucked on the side of Gorge de la Jonte, and the river just down the road in Le Rozier.
Monday 9 April 2012
Setting out on a hike from Le Rozier, the small village seen below. Trail hugs a cliff edge through beautiful forest.
Monday 9 April 2012
Pratiwi is the pink dot on the left here. Not being extra brave - just that's where the path was. Absolutely amazing!
Monday 9 April 2012
Many climbers here on the cliffs. Close enough to chat to some. Look hard for climber having lunch centre 2nd image.
Monday 9 April 2012
This boulder didn't seem to have been here long. Righto... move along quickly!
Monday 9 April 2012
Many, many more stunning views all along the way. To Cassagnes, overlooking Gorge du Tarn and back to Le Rozier.
Monday 9 April 2012
This was our lunch spot. Overlooking the Gorge du Tarn we ate bread & cold meats, pan au chocolat & biscuits. Yum
Monday 9 April 2012
Overlooking Gorge du Tarn. Le Point Sublime. Yes, quite!
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Second col on today's ride. Sunny, but nippy. In fact this is Plan B as was snowing on Plan A route! Still v. nice
Friday 13 April 2012
What's better than a great morning's ride? Coming home to find someone has cooked a delicious meatloaf for lunch!
Saturday 14 April 2012
As we're now packed can share a look inside the (now tidy ) gite. Not too shabby, huh? Home away from home
Saturday 14 April 2012
Travelling light... travelling light Leaving Anduze for Faucon.
Saturday 14 April 2012
Time for a short farewell walk around Anduze before heading off. Doesn't take long either - it's a tiny place!
Saturday 14 April 2012
Uzes & it's market on a Saturday. The tiny streets & walkways packed. We picked up some spices & local jams. Yum
Saturday 14 April 2012
Lunch in Uzès. Pratiwi tucking into her steak tartare. Nice as it was, think I'll stick to my pizza thanks!
Saturday 14 April 2012
Uzès Cathedral, outside & in. This tower (medieval & the only original part they say) is unique in France apparently.
Saturday 14 April 2012
Visiting the Pont du Gard. Consider this had been here for 2000 years & look at the people for scale. Just amazing!!
Thursday 19 April 2012
The cycling I managed around Anduze. All these roads well maintained & many traffic free. Lots of hills. Love it!
