Anybody interested in getting together to take in a bit of the 10th stage of the Tour de France as it passes through the Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence ?
I am thinking about finding a spot on the climb up the Côte de Villedieu (near the village of Oraison) - according to the website Pedmar posted, the Caravan should come through around 12:30 and the riders around 2PM.
If anyone else is interested, we could meet over there (I'll try to scout out a likely looking spot in advance). It's about a 1 hour drive from Apt and perhaps a bit less from Aix. As a bonus, Oraison is just on the edge of the Plateau de Valensole, which should still be gloriously covered in lavender - so that would make for a nice drive either before or after.
Kevin, does the Tour always come through Provence? My husband is an avid follower via American television.
We are visiting the Luberon and Riviera in October but I am doing some planning for next year - hoping to coax husband to travel during the summer. Lavender fields hold no sway, but the Tour de France .......
"I am a Southerner. I like the feel of these words. I could no more be otherwise than I could shed my outer skin or change the color of my eyes." Willie Morris
Posts: 1538 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
We arrived in Bonnieux Saturday night, and would love to join you and other Slow Travelers to see a bit of the Tour de France on July 18. We were talking about this just this morning, and it would be great to share the experience with other friends.
The Tour has gone through at least some part of Provence every year I've been here. One of the classic stages is the Mount Ventoux, but it hasn't been included for a while now.
Nothing is set in stone, however, and it will be a while before next year's tour stages are announced...
Kathy -
Sounds great. Will be nice to see you guys and that's one of the few days in the next few weeks when I think I can reasonably get away...
Merci, Kevin. Perhaps we will return next summer for the lavender fields and the Tour.
"I am a Southerner. I like the feel of these words. I could no more be otherwise than I could shed my outer skin or change the color of my eyes." Willie Morris
Posts: 1538 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
It was real fun - great experience - and a major imporvement over the last time I'd gone (two years ago). We found a spot on a pretty steep climb so that you could actually see the riders going by and get a good feel for things.
Best of all, though, was the ambiance - very festive. We were out in the middle of nowhere with still lots of people lining the course. Had a gorgeous view over the Durance River Valley and a nice shady spot to picnic (fortunately the Woods and another family who are staying at our B&B were smart enough to bring some food along - and kind enough to share !!)....
And we got lots of free, semi-useless stuff .
-Kevin
p.s.: I'd post some photos, but in addition to forgetting food and water, I also forgot my camera. Perhaps Kathy will see this and post a few...
WE got llucky a few years ago. We were spending our first day in Aussane when the Tour came through. Our hosts lived on a small road that led to the road into town that would be used by the Tour. We at a light lunch at the B&B nd rested until we saw the helicopter approach. Then we drove 1 km or so, waited 15-20 minutes, and watched them speed by. It was Armstrong's last Tour. As a fellow Texan and University of Texas alum (Lance did not go there, but is a strong supporter), it was neat to see him. We then returned to our car, drove back to the B&B, and went for a swim.
Posts: 340 | Location: Waco, Texas USA | Registered: 31 January 2006
it a must go. great atmosphere and a bit of France.
Bonjour! I'm also reporting in from yesterday's trip to see a bit of Stage 10 of the Tour de France. We met up with Kevin and some of his guests, an American family with a 14 year old daughter (who Kelly connected with very quickly), so a very nice group. We found a great place to observe the Tour (and all the festivities) south of the village of Oraison, on a little mountain stretch called the Coe de Villedieu. We arrived about two hours before the Tour was to go by.
The atmosphere was great-- I totally agree with pedmar. We drove a bit of the route before we parked and went to our place, and even then-- more than two hours before the Tour-- the route was lined with people, settling in with blankets, lawn chairs, umbrellas, and of course a picnic lunch.
I have to say that we all really enjoyed the caravan-- kind of a parade of sponsors that went by an hour and a half before the actual racers. There were 45 sponsors in decorated vehicles (about 200 vehicles in all), most of whom threw out give-aways to the waving crowd. That was really great fun. We came away with hats, bags of pretzels, key chains, packets of washing detergent, bottled water... hey, I can use some of these things!!! (And Kevin did look awfully fine in his freebee hat.)
As far as the actual Tour, it all happened very fast... we were on a curve of an uphill section, so perhaps we had the cyclists in our view for 10 seconds (instead of the two seconds that people on a flat section might observe), but it was all very exciting. I loved being part of it. Our whole family agreed that this was a day very well spent, despite the driving and waiting and the very hot sun. And as always, we enjoyed sharing another adventure with Kevin. I will post more in my blog along with some photos, and if I can figure it out, I'll even post a video clip that Kelly took...
Afterwards-- of course-- we went off in search of cold beers. I could still feel the excitement of the Tour in the village of Oraison.
I told you so;it is great:glad you enjoy it in good company Kaydee. i am taking my french RTT rest day tomorrow and heading down to Albi for the big event,tour de France. would follow it up to Pau,then back home.
We came away with hats, bags of pretzels, key chains, packets of washing detergent, bottled water... hey, I can use some of these things!!! (And Kevin did look awfully fine in his freebee hat.)
I have been playing the Trivia contest for Tour de France on this site. Great way to keep informed about the race and have fun as well answering all the trivia questions. The winner wins a trip to the 2008 Tour! Here is the site if anyone else wants to play as well.
Well, it's taken me several days, but I've just posted to my blog about our day at the Tour de France with Kevin.
I hope to be able to also post Kelly's little movie of the Tour, but we need to get our wireless internet back in operation again. I'll let you know if/when we're able to get the movie up. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy our impressions of the Tour experience... I'm definitely glad we went (thanks Kevin!!) and we will certainly do it again.
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