Deviation around the Ventoux
The 1912 meters high Mont Ventoux is present here everywhere. It is north-eastern of ours and is inviting to visit it. It is not a problem because a road leads over the summit, a road often showed in tv. This road is a popular distance of the Tour de France (but not in 2010). We want to "mount" it (by car, haha) from the west, from Malaucéne. In the center of the village where the road begins we see blocking plates: deviation! Merde! We drive the announced direction in the hope that we reach the mountain road again. But this is not the case. we must drive on the D40 going around the mount northern through the valley of Toulourenc. This road is green marked on our road map: road of outstanding natural beauty. We can agree with it. We have wonderfull views of the Mont Ventoux and the nice valley.
Through the valley of Toulourenc
We pass very small villages like Saint-Leger-du-Ventoux. After the vacation we learn: this village is the starting point of the famous climbing world La Baleine. Near Savoillan, a quaint village of 80 souls we pass the border to the next departement Drome. The road number D40 gets D72, later D942, heading to Sault. Here, the mountain road over the Mont Ventoux ends coming from Malaucéne. Now, much time is elapsed and we don't want to drive up the summit. We do a side-trip to this very nice Sault. It is located in a height of 700 meters and is surrounded by a lot of fields of lavender. We are afraid that the lavender is not yet blooming. But we smell the odoriferousness of lavender everywhere.
A "duck" goes through Sault.
Wafts of scent come out every shop offering touristic articles.An effective marketing idea! We stroll a little through the small town. There are a lot of shops, bistros, cafés and old buildings. We hear bell ring from anyplace. The cause is the church Notre Dame de la Tour, a massive, romanesque church. The reason is a sad one: a funeral.Our way back goes predominantly down hill to Carpentras.
Altogether: the deviation was annoying at first sight. But we could see a picturesque and marvellous scenery.
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