The day after the tour we decided to drive up in the car just to see it for ourselves. It was a long and painful climb for our poor little Pierre, I can’t imagine doing it on a bike! Maybe someday when I’m tougher.

Along our way we drove through one of the towns on the tour route and had fun looking at all of the encouraging words and phrases painted onto the pavement.

We then took the scenic route to the area surrounding the town of Sault because we had read that it was a large lavender-producing region. That doesn’t even begin to cover it. Fields upon fields of purple flowers. We vowed to go back when we had more time to explore.

We arrived at the summit of Mont Ventoux just in time to catch the last of the sunset. Tons of other Tour fans and bikers who had just completed the climb were there as well, to see the finish line for themselves.