Provence a velo

I just got back from what was probably the best vacation of my life! Short but perfectly sweet: a bike trip through Provence.
It all started with Phillipe, a petit bicycle shop owner who maintained his 'tough' biker attitude by wearing bicycle duds, complete with shoulder and knee padding, from head to toe. After a few of Phillipe's words of wisdom and 6 of his bikes we left Camion and were surrounded by the Provencal countryside within 6km.
What we saw over the next 3 days cannot really be described in words, but I'll give it a try. C'est trop belle!
The first day started off with more or less low countryside. We rode from one beautiful hilltop village to the next. From the peak of one ville you could make out the next, crowning the hill in the distance. By the end of the day we were riding up a steep canyon as the opposing face of the canyon gradually disappeared and we were left with a breathtaking view of the low country villages and vinyards.
And so the trip continued with climbing and descending, the hills eventually becoming mountains and the valleys filled with blossoming cherry orchards and lavender fields.
The air was thick with the ripe smell of the fresh blossoms. Wisteria is the only one I can name. Fresh markets with honey and olives could be found in each town and the vineyards with free tasting littered the countryside.
I can't deny that the biking was intense. 50km a day of mountain biking was definitely more 'sportif' than I had expected, but it was a small price to pay for experiencing Provence. I wouldn't have it any other way!