We got our bikes and all of our stuff out of the storage and made our best effort to convince them not to charge us for the next month. We also put the new tires on the bikes and only got one installed backwards. The separation of stuff for the next section of the ride has started and we plan to take the train up to Paris to dump off excess baggage and pick up some mission critical gear that is stored in Paris. My new front rack is there because Hugh brought it with him when he came to visit during Christmas and my rain coat and some other stuff I can't remember.
Our friend Jerry Lanson wrote a nice article about us for the Huffington Post. Everyone should read it.
He and his wife Kathy are very nice people we met them at school in Aix.
We started to do some training rides when the weather is nice. We plan to explore some of the back roads around Aix. On our very first ride we were both convinced by a giant wild pig that we were going to die. The pig came running down a driveway towards us with a sharp snort that sent shivers down our spines. When we finally got a good look at him we decided to ride away as quick as we could but we were already working pretty hard because we were doing the first climb out of Aix towards Mount Saint Victoire. Well the pig got a look at us too and didn't like the look of us either. He decided to run into the bush sort of in my direction but a stout wire fence was hidden in the foliage and he rammed his snout into the fence and bounced backwards. He charged in Yoly's direction and miraculously found another tiny section of less robust fence that bent considerably when he struck it but the little fence prevented him from getting out onto the road with us. Thanks for your prayers everyone! We had enough adreniline in our systems by that point that the hill didn't seem so steep and the dazed pig was getting further and further behind us. We looked back but couldn't see a trace of the pig anymore.
When we got to the natural history museum at the Maison Sainte Victoire in Bayon the guide told us that when you see a pig you should stop because there are probably more nearby. I don't quite follow the logic and plan to ride faster than Yoly to save my own skin again next time. He explained that the pigs like to dig up nice grass and eat the bugs and stuff they find just under the surface. When we returned to the spot on the way back home we found that the pig had been doing just that and had ruined a huge expanse of nice grass. We also got to see the dents he put in the fences and just how lucky we were that he hit the tiny section of fence the second time.
We also met our friends, Jerry and Kathy, by chance at the museum and firmed up plans for a trip to Banon the next day.
Market day in Aix Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. They sell from fruits to shoes and everything in between.
There are nine adorable puppies just three days old. The proud mama dog does a great job feeding them all and keeping them clean.They have no home along with their masters and it's hard not spare some change at the sight.
Bikes are getting new tires and ready for a test
Schwalbes Marathon replacing our old continental tires.
The oranges are still looking good
Spring is here!
Even the bugs are colourful.
The new berries are coming up.
Intersting fountain in a corner of a street.
Cute little bird sang for us by a walking trail near our place.
Pond at park La Torce two blocks from our appartment.
There is also a nice river, a couple of playgrounds and several trails for cycling and jogging.
Catching our breath after the pig incident at the Moulin de Cezanne.
Approaching a little town outside Aix
Mountain Sainte Victoire
Marble cut from a quarry in Mount Ste.Victoire
Donkeys in a farm outside the museum La Maison Ste. Victoire
Some trees are almost done flowering, that explains all Yoly's sneezing.
The vineyards are also ready to grow.
There is a large section of red soil around this province. Some reds are so intense.
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