We weren't really planning on seeing the finale of this year's race in Paris, but...

Circumstances conspired to place us in Paris this weekend so it really would have been very silly to miss the finish. However, I had heard lots of bad stories about the crowds and was a bit apprehensive. To be honest you have to expect this and things weren't really that bad.

What I will say though, is because of the number of people who obviously flock to the circuit around the Champs-Elysees and Jardin des Tuileries the police have to be very strict. This, combined with some poor barrier placement, makes it harder to see and feel close to the race as we had at all the other stages.

Just one example of this: the road between Jardin des Tuileries and the Seine is between three and five lanes wide along it's length. Every stage elsewhere, even sprint finishes, manage just fine with two lanes. This means that the organisers really could have taken at least one lane of the road for the crowd. They didn't do this though, which left barriers placed along a line of trees meaning it was next to impossible to look down the road and see the race coming (all one could see was the trees). Doh!

That said, this day wasn't about getting close to the action or taking any technically perfect pictures (not that I've managed that so far am sure!)... it was just about being in the crowd and soaking up the atmosphere. This, I think, we managed just fine

This was pretty much the only 'normal' stage we visited, from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay Davézieux.

Having been on the mountain top finish the day before we decided not to worry about getting to one of the two early climbs on this stage (would have meant another crazy early start I just wasn't up for) and instead pick a random place on the flatter route beyond these, close to that we would be driving anyway. It just so happened that the feed zone was a match with such a random place so positioned ourselves a little bit after hoping to grab some discarded team memorabilia.

Or that was the plan...

As it happened where we parked was in the feed zone but the only inkling of that was when team cars started to pull into gaps between spectators and hang musettes from their vehicles in preparation for something or other. By the time we actually figured this out for sure it was too late to move on. To be honest, I blame the crazy (but friendly) Aussies I chatted to on the climb the day before - we saw them parked up (one cannot miss this camper!) and figured they must be old hands at this and be in the right place... doh!

Never mind though - it was pretty interesting to witness the feeding as it were and we managed to collect just one bidon (along with the usual caravan cast offs - mainly St Michel madeleines - yum!) while having a rustle through a musette a fellow fan had grabbed.

This was the individual time trial from Arc-et-Senans to Besançon, and what a big day out it was for us!

Everyone had said that the climb would be the place to see riders at their best, and having done a recon the day before was inclined to agree. That said, this is a time trial and riders would be zipping over the course all day so figured there was a chance to see a bit of everything. The night before I prepared a list of GC riders, calculated their start times and made a plan which worked out pretty well.

It was a very early start to the day from our hotel 30 minutes drive or so from the Départ, but this was rewarded with an easy park around 8am only a few minutes walk from all the action - something that came in handy when we returned to the car to move on another position on course.

We were also very fortunate to score some tickets to a VIP area on the final corner (actually part of why we needed to be here early - to collect these) so that would be our last stop of the day, after the start and that hill.

It has to be said, whilst it was great to see the start and then the finale of main GC riders coming in from a VIP area (think air-con and complimentary drinks and ice creams on a hot day) at the finish, the highlight had to be sitting on the major climb on this course.

To be honest I was absolutely amazed that after spending a good deal of the time watching riders start that we were able to drive to basically the centre of Quingey and once again park just a few minutes walk from where we wanted to be - the 14% section of that climb. Here we sat on the verge of the road - for over an hour - while every two minutes or so another competitor surged, or sometimes grimaced, or in the case of Henderson, grinned their way up the road. To be so close (literally 1m or so away) to such stars travelling at (for them) such relatively slow speed was fantastic. The noise of carbon disc wheels whooshing by again and again a real enduring memory.

This is the last 'living in France' part of our trip and brings us to the stunning Pyrenees region. Such a change from the previous two locations with lush greenery everywhere - forests and fields alike. No sign of Mediterranean style vines or olives in the fields and no wild scrub. It's rich pasture and other green crops mingled between forest on the rolling hills.

This entry is labelled with 'Orincles' not because we were in that village, but as it is the closest place on the map to the accommodation - the wonderful Pyrenees Pursuits. Although this is only in the foothills the riding can be brutal (15% plus climbs just down the road) but of course that's why we (sorry, I) - am here

It is a little telling that this was the first time in the trip I felt the need to drive somewhere to start off a ride - the geography of the steep valleys and mountains just does not lend itself to being able to head off in any direction and form many different loops. Don't get me wrong - there's plenty of varied riding on the doorstep, but if you are limited with time on the bike then driving to the famous climbs was the way to go. Yes... the climbs... wasn't that worried about these after Ventoux but one still has to take care - coming into summer it was very nice to get a little warmth but that heat was vicious on a couple of days. Add to that the effort to string a few cat ones or a couple of HC climbs together and it can get a bit tough. Pretty pleased with how this all went though, and here's what I managed (in no particular order)...

Col d'Aubisque, Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aspin, La Hourquette d'Ancizan, Col d'Azet, Col de Peyresourde, Col de Spandelles, Col du Soulor, Luz Ardiden, Hautacam & Col du Tramassel. Phew!

In between all this we managed a few more standard tourist activities and also some amazing walking which was also highly recommended.

Really, really beautiful place and quite sad to be moving on. We must return!

Part two of our South of France trip saw us arriving in an unseasonably cold Provence and looking out of the gite window at rolling fields of vines on to the looming mass of Mont Ventoux.

Another wonderful home from home with a little log burning stove for heating which got a good workout for a couple of weeks until the sun decided to shine. Not that the weather would stop the riding, maybe just delay the inevitable assault on Ventoux - the headline of this stay of course.

Aside from the cycling, which is truly amazing in this part of the world (many cols and valleys to explore aside from the main event of Ventoux) we really enjoyed a lot more relaxation and the chance to discover numerous gems here in Provence.

The astute viewer will notice that Pratiwi & I were joined by her sister for a short part of the time here which made the stay even more enjoyable.

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!

The start of a big adventure! Flying into Birmingham we had a chance to visit a few people before heading off into France. Great catching up with a lot of people not seen for many years.