A surprisingly good breakfast served at the Campanile hotel - by the time we had finished there was very little left for the other guests. But - hey ho they really did not need to stock up like we did! We left the very non- descript town in sunshine and 11* - no Summer yet. We were back in the saddles again by 0830 and made great progress. Soon the hills slowed us down - mea culpa! - but had time to stop for a glorious whipped cream covered coffee in St Julian. More hills to follow and again some rather unorthodox tracks - rocks and stones and gravel and pot holes! Be aware if you plan your route with GPSies - they like lanes!!! We stopped for lunch in pretty in Salernes - great food and charming waitress - perhaps we got cartied away by the 2 Oranginas (each!!!). We had hoped to get to St Tropez for an afternoon drink but road closure and a stiff (warm) headwind plus some very unexpected steep hills threw a tyre lever in our plans! A steep climb leading down to La Plan de la Tour ( do they really plan it there ? How do they kerp it secret?) where we stopped for Crepes and coffee before we reached the Cote d'Azur at St Maxime. I was temporarily distracted by a very pretty Gendarme (f) who smiled at me (in pity??) and i hit a curb with my sidewall (tyre) - puncture!! I bet she has shares in an inner tube company. But I forgive her!!
. Shortly after Martyn repeated the feat without requiring a pretty Gendarme to distract him. We resched our destination in St Raphael - Hotel Brise de Mer(e) - with the e it would mean Mother's farts which it fortunately did not. A gorgeous receptionist greeted us and it all felt like home after 91 miles and 1600 metres of climbing. Great hotel!! Time for the usual equipment wash ( that includes clothes) before we hit the town - great food and some Rose wine to keep the marine fare moist! A good time was had - again!! Tomorrow we head towards Bella Italia but will plan as we go!!
Good to see you're getting plenty of climbing in Soren!
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