Temperature was low  - 4 or 5 degrees, no more - when we straddled our bikes and started the long downhill past Remuzat and Sahune. Following the river l'Eygues we could enjoy magnificent rocks and hills surrounding us. No vautours in sight but we passed their domain when we passed St-May. The further we rode, the more the high rock outcrops seemed to give us a wide birth. The valley broadened and when we reached Nyons, a whole different terrain greeted us. Wide open space, with the occasional outcrop or hill. We made good pace, the wind more or less blowing in our backs and the sun shining in our faces. Before long we were in Vaison la Romaine, where we stopped for a break. The looks on the faces turned grim when we saw the Mont Ventoux, to our left and above, with its head encircled by a dark cloud and with snow on its flanks. The snow seemed to go down even below Chalet Reynard. Not looking good !

Malaucene was next and it was soon learned that the road leading up to the Mont Ventoux, was closed. We took the Col de la Madeleine and I took a picture past its crest with the Mont Ventoux and Bedoin on it.

When we reached Bedoin, we took another rest stop and talked about how we would continue our day. Some decided to ride up the Mont Ventoux to the Chalet Reynard, to check out the conditions.

We decided to roll on towards Flassan and have a go at the long ascent along the Gorges de la Nesque. A miracle of nature I had seen last year but did not mind doing again. The sun was out and I felt it burn . Damn, forgot the sun creme. The Gorges where their usual magnificent selves and we leisurely rode to Monieux. 

Here, it was decided to take a shortcut that would save is 10K to ride up to Sault and then back up the Col ND des Abeilles. The shortcut turned out to be quite something. Steep, steeper and steepest, with percentages reaching 27 at one point. When I saw the length of the climb still ahead, I decided to unclip and walk. Not a thing I easily do but the hill was just too steep. Reaching the big road leading up the Col ND des Abeilles, we paused until everyone of our group made it up the climb.

Moving onwards we tackled the Col ND des Abeilles, with its 3 steps, and then zoomed back down a very long descent into Flassan.

There was a thunderstorm rumbling in the far distance but we made it to our hotel in Sainte-Colombe still basking in the sun. A lot of wind though. During dinner that evening the group was together and telling tales from how each of them spent their day.

The forecast for tomorrow looked better, with a forecast of positive temperatures on top of the Mont Ventoux, and the dissipation of the snow on the route leading up to it.