An easy ride today – 74km including 5km into town and back at the end of the day.

Ride consisted of rolling farmland interspersed with regular towns – olive trees; vineyards; wheat fields, some dry river beds.

It also seemed a little cooler in the afternoon than in the previous few days – thank goodness.

We stopped St Andre de Sangonis for breakfast from the local bakery and coffee shop.

Then onto Pezenas where we arranged our accommodation at tourist info and spent an hour or so looking around the Saturday morning market – huge food market in the historic center. We bought a large bag of delicious cherries and also some bread and tomatoes. Leaving town I was pleased to find a big Carrefour Supermarche, where we shopped for the rest of our picnic and also bought a snack and coffee (nice and cool inside).

The road between Pezenas and Bessan was appalling for bikes – not enough shoulder and fast traffic. After running this gauntlet we were relieved to get onto a quiet road again and then not far to our accommodation just outside Vias.

The chambres d’hotes is on a farm – very well kept place. She has around 5 extra rooms built around the large house, each with its own patio. We enjoyed our picnic on the patio and then fell asleep for a couple of hours – indulgent!

Highlight:

• Going into Vias this evening and finding a folk festival in full swing. Lots of people in traditional costume. Also a stage with folk dancing and some great singing (accompanied by fiddle and accordion). Mostly local people, and a stall selling a delicious smelling meal – meat that must have been cooked in red wine. Too bad we were too full to eat again!