Col du Bel Homme (915 m.)

Rocher de Roquebrune (373 m.)

Riding up from the Riviera to the head of the Grand Canyon of the Verdon at Castellane in the Préalpes of Haut-Provence. I’ve been waiting for the best weather day for a ride inland and I think I just bagged it; this was a fantastic day out, roads quiet, including almost no cyclists or motorcaravans; bright, warm enough and no wind so great views and great riding.

The road up from Le Muy works well, the Gorge du Pennafort is a treat to ride. Some pretty villages with ochre facings. The Col du Bel Homme (915 m.) is fun but not fast until after the top. Then there’s a plateau, followed by a section of the Route Napoléon (south from Castellane) which is justly famous for its sweeping curves and long gradients. I don’t know these routes so there’s also the challenge and thrill of riding in to the unknown.
The feel of this area’s the nearest I can think of to the Boonies in back-country Wyoming: long straights then a curve; farm buildings widely-separated, stuff outside to ward off evil spirits. Spent cartridge cases in the grass at the side of the road.
Much of the high plain around Canjeurs is a military training area - there’s a spooky abandoned village close to the road but it’s out of bounds to us. This is a high and arid landscape, crossed by rough tracks but I didn’t see any tanks this time.
Lunch in the square at Castellane, the Mairie flying a Ukrainian flag in solidarity. Back down to Saint-Raphaël, through the vineyards of Côtes de Provence on red rock in time for another Riviera sunset through the palm trees of Saint-Raphaël. A grilled Daurade for dinner in a pirate restaurant and, as this was the territory of the Barbary Coast pirates, finishing off with a glass of Limoncello (rum being the tipple of the Caribbean pirates).
My CBR600RR is running pretty well after its service; today’s ride finally wiped off all of both the red and the green lines on the new tyres.

Gorge du Pennafort