Forcalquier - Apt

Monday 25 July 05

We were up and away early again this morning. The first 10km's were cold and damp as we rode through low mist. Neither Cam nor I were feeling particularly motivated and the mist only made matters worse.

Once the mist lifted and the sun hit us with force and thankfully died us out. Unfortunately we were still feeling unmotivated. We followed the Luberon Bike route signed the whole day.

Cam and I are both pretty dissapointed with the route as it is very uneventful and takes you all over the place down crappy roads.

We arrived in Apt and set up camp at the campground near town. We grabbed some supplied from town before enjoying a bottle of wine and some cheese and chilling out in the peace and quiet of our campsite.

We decided that we would stay 2 nights and do a side trip tomorrow before heading to Murs on Wednesday.

Tuesday 26 July 05

We enjoyed a little sleep in this morning as we didn't have to pack up camp. We started the ride following the bike route to Cavaillon (the same one from yesterday) turning off at Bonnieux and heading to Lourmarin. The road from Bommieux to Lourmarin takes you between the Grand and Petit Luberons (Plateaus). The scenery was amazing as usual.

We arrived in Lourmarin and had a look around. We fixed a flat tyre on Cam's bike in the gardens of the first Renaissons stle Chateau built in France. We continued our look around town before heading to Vaugines. Another must see town int he lonely planet that wasn't particularly interesting. We headed back towards Lourmarin - a very very pretty town on our way to Buoux. The road climbs back out of the valley at a gentle grade. Once we hit the turn off to Buoux we once again decend. We followed the signs to an old fort - which just happens to be perched on the top of a rock spur. We paid our entry fee and climbed to the fort on foot. The fort initially started in the 13th Century is still in pretty good condition. The majority of the complex has fallen down with time but there are still the 3 Ramparts, Chapel, houses, guardsroom and secret staricase to admire. The complex was about 500m and went back up the hill to where the tower sat with 360 degree views. It was just amazing. They somehow cut curcle storage holes straight into the rock and used them as silos. Just near the silos in the secret staircase that would allow the entry or exit of one or more people without being seem. This staircase is also cut straight into the solid rock. All in all Cam and I spent about 3 hours amazed at everything they accomplished here.

After leaving the fort we once again enjoyed an easy assent followed by a fast decent in Saignon. Saignon is a small town also situated on a rock spur.

After a look around we rolled downhill (very quickley) into Apt and back to the campground. We enjoyed a bottle of wine and some cheese before getting ready to leave tomorrow. We had an early dinner and went to bed.