N2A - day 3: Castellane to Manosque.

Today's route is approximately 93kms long. However, we were given the option of doing an aditional 23km circuit with 750 metres of climbing. It was made clear this option would not be supported because of the narrowness of the road. Approximately half of us, including me, decided to do the optional loop and it proved, for me at least, to be the highlight of the ride.
When we left camp we cycled along the Verdon river to Point Sublime from which good views of the Verdon Gorge could be obtained. The Verdon Gorge is about 25kms long and 700 metres deep, formed by the unstoppable force of water known as the River Verdon - so called because of its distinctively emerald hue. The Gorge is France's greatest natural attraction and the world's second largest (after the Grand Canyon).
Just before a place called La Palud sur Verdon we detoured onto the optional loop called the "Routes des Cretes"  This route followed the edge of the northern rim of the canyon and offered spectacular views of the gorge. There were some fairly steep sections (15%) with a long and spectacular descent. The road on the descent was narrow and rough and with traffic coming the other way demanded one's full attention if you didn't want to be sailing through the air with a long drop to the bottom. We rejoined the official route at La Palud sur Verdon where we had a very long lunch and filled up our water bottles at the village fountain. While every day to date had been in the high 30s, today was extremely hot with the winds we were to encounter not helping.

After leaving La Palud sur Verdon our next stop was at Mostiers Ste Marie for a drink and fill up our water bottles. Mostiers Ste Marie was founded by monks in AD 433 and is nestled between towering cliffs and is known as the "Etoile de Provence" - Star of Provence. It is a touristy town complete with restaurants, shops etc.

From Moustiers we cycled on small country roads to the Plateau de Valensole, reputedly France's largest lavender fields. The lavender fields go on for kilometre after kilometre and the fragrance permates the air. I'm not sure whether I like the smell or not. We cycled past numerous tourists who were stopping to view the fields. Some of these tourists paid little attention to the fact there were cyclists around - cutting in front of you and opening doors with little regard to what was coming from behind. One enterprising Frnchman had set up a photo booth in one of the fields to take people's photo in the field. There were also many fields with sunflowers and wheat.

From Valensole we descended into the Durance River valley to arrive at Manosque where we were staying at a hotel located in the central old town. Manosque is the largest town and commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. However it is not the prefecture of the department which resides in the smaller town of Digne-les-Bains.

As I mentioned earlier, today was an extremely hot day. One of the two guys I was riding with went through so many water bottles I lost count. In one village we went through we were looking for some water when this guy spotted a lady watering some plants in a back road. She not only filled up our water bottles but hosed down my two companions. I didn't fancy riding ringing wet. It was after Moustiers where we encountered the headwinds. However, like every day so far I thoroughly enjoyed the riding and the sights.

STATISTICS

Distance ridden today: 112.8. Cumulative total: 295.9.
Vertical metres climbed today: 2,033. Cumulative total: 6,701.

Point Sublime.

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Point Sublime with some people on the tour.

Me at Point Sublime.

A picture of the Verdon Gorge.

Tunnel on Routes de Cretes.

View from Routes de Cretes.

Road tunnel viewed from across the Gorge. Was coming into a haipin when I saw it. Others didn't see it at all.

 We descended from the peak yuo can see in the background and we stll had a lot of descending to do.

Lake far below Routes des Cretes.

Moustiers Ste Marie - see towering cliffs in background. Picture doesn't do them justice.

Street in Manosque.

Manosque.

Lavender field.