Transit Day & watched the race pass

Today was our 500 km transit day on the bus from Lourdes to Provence. Left at 8 am and arrrived at 8 pm. Yep 12 hours in total. Should have been a lot less but it was Sunday in France, in summer and Le Tour was on. Everyone was on the roads.

Even the pros didn't miss out on the traffic as they headed more or less in the same direction after the race.

Some interesting tweets from the pros:

f_cancellara Fabian cancellara

Lucky we have danny(our busdriver) he found some roads were no traffics is...beside the highway... 200km in 4hours not bad... F...ing bad

 

Mark_Renshaw Mark Renshaw

So @tvangarderen88 just said we should ride to the hotel... Off ya go buddy! http://twitpic.com/5rotl1

 

Vaughters Jonathan Vaughters

Holy mother of all traffic jams. #iliveinabus

 

GeraintThomas86 Geraint Thomas

Traffic... Man I hate it!! People of France, where are you all going at 8pm?!

 

But I digress. To the race past Carcassonne and the old walled Cite.

Dare in front of the drawbridge

Crowds build for the race

Even actors entertained the crowds

and here comes Voeckler in yellow

with Cavendish and Team Leopard all lined up

 and here's what Cavendish had to say about it on Twitter:

MarkCavendish Mark Cavendish

Passed 1 of the most stunning & historical places in France today. Carcassonne. Once read a good novel about it too. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

 

Continuing on our way, we passed over the Rhone River

 

until we finally spotted tomorrow's mountain to be climbed. The mighty Ventoux way off in the background but dominating the skyline

Somehow the drive was worth it when we pulled into our accommodation in Provence for two nights and enjoyed the following dinner; entree, main and desert (pics just for Simon !!)

Now for some sleep ready for another 30 km climb tomorrow.