Previous readers will note we have cycled on the disused railway line from the stunning town of Uzes with its stunning aire and their lovely wine.
We came in for our winter supply of wine.
First up was the haribo shop though and keeping the grumpkids happy upon our return. 2 kg of the stuff for 17 euros so slightly cheaper than when good sized prawns are on offer !
The route we took was out of town from the aire (Domaine st firmin) back to the haribo shop and museum then St Maxime, Vers, Castillon du gard which is a medieval village.
The roads and signposting are awful til you get to Vers. This place is worth a detour but the road directly there isn't worth bothering with. Far better to use the voie verte til you get to Vers train station which is also a cafe restaurant and then go to the town. Couple of good bars and a public bath lavoir ! Which I had to use as my chain got well and truly stuck.
At the first lavoir I noticed hornets going inside the side wall of a house.
Anyway I was caked in grease and oil and usually our hand cleaner gets rid of it. Not today. So we stopped in the vival and I bought some proper soap. At point of purchase I felt a big bee on my neck and did my best dad dancing manoeuvre, which included my speciality lawnmower move, and of course nobody could see the insect and thought the Englishman with black hands was a disco dancer of the mad variety.
But then on the desk was the hornet. Squashed with one very accurate main de mort fly swatter, I then came into my own by performing an autopsy on dead insect and identifying it as Pierre who was a European hornet which was good news for the locals as asian hornets are horrible things. The queue were now impressed.
But I went one stage further and told them exactly where a nest was. Use of Google Street view identifying the exact spot and Renee the shopkeeper obviously knew the owner and would ring him immediately.
What I don't know is if hornets nest in walls or they were just robbing bees who had settled there.
Anyway we then took the route de castillon and lovely little walk round and worthy of our euro for a beer. Mainly because there was an Arctic absolutely stuck attempting a left hand turn down towards pont du gard.
So we sat down with a beer to watch. Police turned up and it was comical. Must have had 30 to 40 blatant spectators in this quiet village. Scrapings of walls. We moved our bikes on railings. They finally managed to get him out but he was now facing the wrong way. Clouseau was having none of it and made home reverse about a mile down the wrong way. We overtook him !
But then found this great 4 bath lavoir and I had soap. Result was significantly less black hands !
Down to the point du gard for obligatory photos we found a panorama view we haven't seen before.
Quick dip in the tepid shallow river including sliding in unexpectedly on the smooth rock with a phone saving throw as I (in my mind) elegantly pirouetted into the water.
Then back home via the flat even surfaces disused railway line where one of those rosé boxes is chilled.
We came in for our winter supply of wine.
First up was the haribo shop though and keeping the grumpkids happy upon our return. 2 kg of the stuff for 17 euros so slightly cheaper than when good sized prawns are on offer !
The route we took was out of town from the aire (Domaine st firmin) back to the haribo shop and museum then St Maxime, Vers, Castillon du gard which is a medieval village.
The roads and signposting are awful til you get to Vers. This place is worth a detour but the road directly there isn't worth bothering with. Far better to use the voie verte til you get to Vers train station which is also a cafe restaurant and then go to the town. Couple of good bars and a public bath lavoir ! Which I had to use as my chain got well and truly stuck.
At the first lavoir I noticed hornets going inside the side wall of a house.
Anyway I was caked in grease and oil and usually our hand cleaner gets rid of it. Not today. So we stopped in the vival and I bought some proper soap. At point of purchase I felt a big bee on my neck and did my best dad dancing manoeuvre, which included my speciality lawnmower move, and of course nobody could see the insect and thought the Englishman with black hands was a disco dancer of the mad variety.
But then on the desk was the hornet. Squashed with one very accurate main de mort fly swatter, I then came into my own by performing an autopsy on dead insect and identifying it as Pierre who was a European hornet which was good news for the locals as asian hornets are horrible things. The queue were now impressed.
But I went one stage further and told them exactly where a nest was. Use of Google Street view identifying the exact spot and Renee the shopkeeper obviously knew the owner and would ring him immediately.
What I don't know is if hornets nest in walls or they were just robbing bees who had settled there.
Anyway we then took the route de castillon and lovely little walk round and worthy of our euro for a beer. Mainly because there was an Arctic absolutely stuck attempting a left hand turn down towards pont du gard.
So we sat down with a beer to watch. Police turned up and it was comical. Must have had 30 to 40 blatant spectators in this quiet village. Scrapings of walls. We moved our bikes on railings. They finally managed to get him out but he was now facing the wrong way. Clouseau was having none of it and made home reverse about a mile down the wrong way. We overtook him !
But then found this great 4 bath lavoir and I had soap. Result was significantly less black hands !
Down to the point du gard for obligatory photos we found a panorama view we haven't seen before.
Quick dip in the tepid shallow river including sliding in unexpectedly on the smooth rock with a phone saving throw as I (in my mind) elegantly pirouetted into the water.
Then back home via the flat even surfaces disused railway line where one of those rosé boxes is chilled.
