Vaucluse Dreamer

I know we’re only in mid-August, so it’s still the height of summer and it feels as if we should be throwing ourselves into all the events and activities that are planned in the surrounding area, over the next few days.

But after a busy last 6 weeks back in Devon, all I want to do is potter at home and get back out on the bikes, looking forward to our Cycle trip from Madrid, which starts in 6 weeks time. Bearing in mind how quickly the last 6 have gone, it will be with us in no time.

To be honest, and I know lots of people will disagree with me on this, I don’t miss the Luberon in the height of summer. The heat can be too much, especially for Millie, who at 13 finds it harder and harder to function, when the temperature hits the high 30s for days on end. Also, the area loses the divine peace of the shoulder and low seasons, which we love so much. So, 6 weeks of work back in the UK ends up being rather appealing.

I still have my small upcycled silver business in the UK, which started as a hobby and got rather out of hand. Over the summer, we set up the stall at a number of events, which kept us busy for the time we were there, and I even won first prize at one of the shows, which makes it worth all the effort.

We managed to fit in lots of other things too, spending precious time with our youngest, helping friends with a house move, and yes a little cycling too, which made the weeks flash by. Before we knew it, we were watching the closing ceremony of the Olympics, before piling us, Millie and Pusscat into the car for the long drive home.

A 1000 mile journey is never an exciting prospect, with Pusscat glaring at us for the entire trip, as if plotting her revenge on us for putting her in her basket.

That said, she always enacts her revenge very early into the trip, filling the car with a stench of death, which sees us having to stop, clean the basket and often Pusscat too! It can make for interesting moments, especially when on one occasion, we were stopped in a layby, in an area known for dogging exploits. As we were wrestling a very angry, very stinky cat, a car pulled up in front of us, flashing its headlights.  I’m not sure a bit of filthy cat action was what the driver was after, but we mopped everything up quickly and drove off, before we had a chance to find out!

Needless to say, it’s never a quick drive and we build in regular stops to take Millie for little walks, which helps break it into manageable 2 hour chunks. We also act like a tag team, sharing the driving, whilst one catches a nap in the passenger seat, as the kilometres pass below the wheels.

We find that we have to live in the moment, chalking off little sections, celebrating passing Beaune, which is half way through France, then smiling when we pass the pixies leap-frogging the toadstools at the side of the autoroute . A real sign that we’re well and truly on our way home.

The first sense of home-coming happens when we catch a glimpse of Mont Ventoux, quickly followed (bizarrely) by the Avignon IKEA, a very odd sign of being within a stone’s throw (albeit a huge giant’s stone’s throw) of home. Only then do we allow ourselves to believe that we’re nearly there.

We never tire of that last drive along the valley, the little markers along the way lifting the veil of tiredness, settling our jangled nerves and fixing a smile on our faces. By the time we drive into Apt, we feel rejuvenated, noticing the little changes that have taken place in the last few weeks, although we did pass up a chance to wander around the brocante market that was still filled with stalls, as we drove by.

Whether it’s simple happiness, or just the heightened emotion that comes after such a long drive, my eyes seem to get rather moist as we head up the hill, and catch sight of the house again.

It may have only been 6 weeks, and they had really flown by, but in so many ways it felt as if we had been away for a lifetime.

As Millie hopped down from the car & we released Pusscat from her prison, they both rolled on the driveway, as if it was their way of celebrating their own arrival home too.

Once unpacked, and everything was put away, we finally allowed the tiredness to catch up with us, tumbling into bed just before 9, with no memory of our heads even touching the pillows.

Home again, we are happy just to spend time settling back into our little life here. Enjoying doing the mundane tasks including tidying the garden, wrestling the growth on the roses and wisteria into some form of order, and banishing the spiders and ‘many-legged-beasts’ that have made themselves at home in our absence. Even a trip to do the shopping at Auchan & Fresh feels like a little treat.

After a day of catching up with the house though, we’re ready to get back on the bikes and get back to pottering around the area on 2 wheels. Also we are very aware that it isn’t long until we head off for a big cycle ride in Spain, so we need to make sure we’re fit enough to do it. Although we managed to do some cycling in Devon, the rides were relatively few and far between, although the hills there are always a good test for our legs.

With the area in the midst of a canicule (extreme heatwave), the temperatures have been hitting the high thirties, by mid morning, so it’s important to ride early. The alarm was set for 6, and after peeling ourselves into our kit, we headed out on our favourite little ride to Bonnieux & Lacoste.

There is something very comfortable about this loop. It’s a regular ride for us, and I have a feeling that the bike almost has its own muscle-memory of where to go. The old road, snaking its way between Apt & Bonnieux is a delight; a gentle climb with beautiful views across towards Mont Ventoux.

At just after 7am, it’s peaceful too (even in august), with early birdsong and the first few tentative scratches from cicadas, waiting to be warmed by the sun. A single hot air balloon seems suspended in the silence, drifting on the gentle breeze above Roussillon and the area just seems to be waiting to rub the sleep from its eyes and face what the new day will throw at it.

Sitting in our little spot on the wall at Lacoste, looking back towards Bonnieux, we allowed our shoulders to drop and the stress slip away, as we watched the swallows darting in front of us.

There is something so comforting about just sitting and watching the day wake up, seeing more bikes pass by than cars and hearing shutters swing open in the village above. It’s easy for time to slip past, but even with overcast skies and the early hour, the temperature was already rising, so we pottered on.

In fact, we arrived home just before 10, feeling that the stresses of the previous day’s drive had been eased from our bodies, already sensing that we had settled back into home.

Of course, the day had to include a Fifi outing, as the poor old lady hasn’t had any attention for the last few weeks. Her last outing was a trip around the lavender fields with some very dear friends, but since then she has been under cover, waiting for us to return.

Considering she’s 53 now, she was keen to get going, starting first-time and almost purring up the hills, on a little, afternoon drive out around Simiane La Rotonde. OK, I accept that with all the 435cc of her engine that she probably didn’t purr, but she bounced and swished along, as if she too was happy to be out again.

Today has been a public holiday in France, with so many events taking place across the area. We could have popped over to Sault for the lavender festival, or into L’Isle Sur La Sorgue for the Brocante, or even just up to the Bergerie de Berdine for their big vide grenier too, but in all honesty that still feels too much.

So another 6am wake-up and another bike ride out to Menerbes where we sat on the wall, watching the valley wake under a veiled sky and a milky sun. Take a look at the view here

If anything, the public holiday meant it was even quieter, and no cars passed us at all between Apt & Bonnieux. It was like riding along a cycle path.

The first cars we really saw, were as we approached Les Beaumettes which hosts a huge vide grenier event every 15th August. As ever, cars were abandoned in every feasible parking spot from some distance outside the village, so we cycled in and ambled through the stalls.

The bonus of being on a bike is that it does rather restrict our ability to buy anything, although we have previously taken a trailer to this event and cycled back along the Veloroute towing a rather lovely old zinc bathtub for the garden! Today though was just a chance to browse and be immersed in the babble of a lovely little event.

By the time we were heading back to Apt, I was ravenous and so took an emergency stop at my favourite ‘Fig tree of requirement’ , picking a handful of the squishy, sweet fruits to keep my hunger at bay until we arrived home.

This is Provence for us. A simple, easy-going place that we love to be able to call home. We really don’t need anything more than the bikes, the views and a love of early-mornings to ensure that we can avoid the summer heat and crowds.

After a busy few weeks, it is just delightful to be able to stop, draw breath and relax. If you call preparing for a 1000km ride relaxing …. Hey ho!