French Alps - Day 6

 

Tournon sur Rhone sits on the bank of the Rhone and has an odd mix of beautiful ancient buildings in the historic center, and a total disregard for architectural flair, or consideration, of any kind, in the outskirts.  

Needless to say, we stayed in the old town, finding apartment 'Lichen' on Booking.com on the bank of the river with motorcycle parking in a locked and gated yard.  Winner winner. 

As soon as we arrived, our engines drawing attention, the old man next door came out to introduce himself. He was a biker with 13 motorcycles and showed me his garage. 'if there's anything you need, just knock on my door', he said. Top bloke! 

Below, our arrival in town - always starts at bar and a search for accommodation.  The angle of the photo hides the looming storm clouds that gather behind. They opened in a deluge of biblical proportions shortly after. 

  

All day we'd been having a game of cat and mouse with the weather.  It promised wet underpants and we weren't so keen on it's intent. Always hopeful to reach the end before the weather.

Below, a valley completely shrouded in a blanket of fog.  

The temperature had dropped so suddenly we were caught off guard with coats open, flapping in the now freezing wind. 

From clear to pea soup. Up until this point the day had been bright and clear. We could see what looked like a thick wall of smoke ahead, but could see no fire.  Turns out it was just the heavens decending. 

The towns and scenery through Provence is  picture perfect. Certainly living up to reputation imo. 

The TET in the area north of Avignon.  Sweeping easy going trails cutting a path through scenic country side land scapes. Dreamy. 

Our day begins in Avignon and the following images summarize my perspective of the city.  

What the they do not capture is the young skinny and, tweaked out of his mind, beggar that was aggressively screaming profanities at us and other people gathered. 

What a wanker

 I assume profanities, he was French and I am not. .

The city is huge and built to no real street plan, as ancient cities tend to.  It's worth a visit. Just avoid the beggars.