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Dropping down from the high ground we are enjoying a downhill whizz to Brignon, when a man leaning against a white van takes a photo of us. A short while later the van appears in our mirrors and follows us into Brignon, tailgating us through a tricky staggered junction to cross the main road and River Gard ou Gardon before overtaking and flagging us down. We are used to being photographed but this seems a bit over-keen. Our photographer approaches and explains that he is a cycle journalist and has written extensively about Mont Ventoux. We process a few ATQs in a more informed way than usual and he says he would like to take a few more photos and write about us in a cycle-touring magazine. Not having our agent to hand to negotiate a suitable fee, we agree and smile co-operatively.
We follow the Gardon valley towards the edge of the Cévennes (which we are to explore thoroughly later in the tour) to arrive in Anduze. Shopping for drinks and apricots, then visit the OdT. Sit outside on a bench for our drinks and deal with various ATQs. A short circuit of the town takes in the market hall, coloured tile fountain (behind scaffolding being restored) and bell tower as we head out of town to our hotel. Check in to a quiet hotel with friendly owner who tells us that his chef has not turned up but he is prepared to fix a simple dinner for us. After a bit of manoeuvring through a tight space we park the trike outside and head for our room and S&W. There is a pool, John is feeling much better, and so in a short while we are both in the pool. Dinner turns out to be simple but very acceptable and we share the dining room with one other (French) couple. We chat to the patron about the various jazz items and pictures around the hotel and he turns out to be a great blues fan. Not too many, but some thing come up so often in the course of our cycle touring that it is not worth writing them out in full each time: Click on any photo to enlarge and scroll through gallery
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