The term 'Premier' would give you a whole different description of this place, although the staff were very friendly and it was not an expensive stop off. The toilet area is so small you can sit on the pan, wash your hands and have a shower at the same time. Bizarre! Taking account of cost though, it wasn't too bad.
Off and running at 8.15 this morning, 6 or 7 peaks according to the telemetory and nothing over 400 feet. All good in my ears but 400 feet from sea level can still get you pecking if it's straight up.
Today was the day we thought we were going to have yesterday. Cycling along the fronts of the coastal ports and bays, watching how the other half do it.
The first few miles took us through Toulon. They look after cyclists there and the route was again well navigated by Alan, who hardly took a wrong turn all day.
As we cycled through the town we saw their rugby ground as we filled up our water bottles at a BP garage.
Once out of the big City, we were back heading towards the coast. We bumped into a local who cycles daily in the area. Spends all morning on his bike chatting with cyclists passing through and spends the afternoon at the shops with his lady. A good trade off I would say.
He took us along for quite a few miles and chatted away at the front. Im sure it was a very interesting conversation but as i was never at the front, it never involved me.
Our first coffee of the day was at 30 miles. Double Expressos all round and an Orangina for the bairn (me).
8 miles later we were on the coast and looking at a very posh Greggs for lunch in Cavalierre. Bagettes all round and we were off to picnic on the beach.
After lunch, the road layout became very much a winding one round the bays and cliffs of the coast. Very up and down and without realising it we were knocking the miles off, as it never gave you much time to get into a groove with the constant changing landscape.
So big hills today at 7, 32 and 52 miles were the ones that got you down to the lowest gears but the views again were well worth it and at a top height of 400 feet, they were well less than we have being doing recently.
It wasn't long before we saw the signs to turn right for St Tropez but as we were in line for reasonable time to finish for the day we went straight on (an excuse to come back again to this region).
We passed Port Grimaud and zipped along the coast stopping for a wee photo op with St Tropez in the background across the water.
We cycled on to the town of Saint Maxine on another roasting toasting day which could only mean we would have our traditional beer stop by the beach this time!
With 20 miles to go, the landscape flattened out and we hugged the coast line to our final destination in Frejus.
A very staight forward last few miles, saw today as being pretty non eventful but with the sights, food, photos and banter, it was undoubtedly one of the best.
A Kyriad Hotel to finish with before our arrival in MC and a great hotel it is too. Food was beef stew (can't spell bourgingion) and the helpings were excessive, as they have been for much of the tour.
The big news of the day was that the girls had flown into Nice and had made their way to MC. From the photos it would appear that the girls have wasted no time in getting out and about suss out the surroundings. Some brilliant photos appearing on the media sites this evening.
So, needless to say we are all looking forward to meeting up with our ladies again tomorrow. Folk are generally smelling a bit better than they have been in the last 2 weeks. Phil sent a text to Jenifer earlier re the beard saying 'to shave or not to shave, that is the question?' Her reply was 'to kiss or not to kiss, now that is the question?' The beards gone.
75 miles done and in hotel before 5pm - a record!
Looking forward to getting into the last leg of the tour, meeting the girls and having a photoshoot in Cannes tomorrow (not necessarily in that order).
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