Publisher's Synopsis
Geographically, this guidebook focuses on the Roman Provence Region of France of the northern Gard and western Vaucluse Departments, the Drôme Department north and east into the Rhône Alpes, and the southern Ardèche Department. The routes start from three locations: Crest in the Drôme, Vallon-Pont-d'Arc in the Ardèche and Pont du Gard west of Avignon. The Gorges de la Baume & Cirque de Combe Laval route is the outlier due to the staggering beauty of the area. Why this area of France? Not for the industrial Rhône Valley. But, if you wander 20 to 30 kilometers east or west of the Rhône Valley you will find the medieval hilltop villages, deep gorges with rushing rivers, Roman structures and very hospitable people that want to help. Fifteen routes are mapped in detailed color with elevation profiles and exacting, step-by-step directions (data gathered to the nearest 0.2 kilometer). There are 202 color photographs for these surroundings. Motorists have not changed in rural France. They are still surprisingly (for a North American) courteous toward cyclists. You can always stop beside the narrow, paved roads in these routes for a break and not be concerned by traffic. You may buy lavender honey, fresh asparagus and strawberries from the farmer, a bottle of wine at a vineyard or olive oil in a morning market. How about riding across the 2,000-year-old, dry laid Pont du Gard aqueduct, the largest constructed by the Romans? The list of experiences is extensive. You will want to come back. Specifics are here for unstressed travel to this area, arriving relaxed. Includes data on selecting a community, gîtes, bikes, renting a vehicle, driving in France, what to bring, buying groceries and a bit on restaurants. There are fifteen cycling routes mapped and profiled. Each itinerary discusses a few villages and points of interest along the route. All circuits are on paved roads, except for three kilometers on a partly gravel, partly potholed stretch used to avoid some traffic. Motor vehicle traffic on these routes is light. To optimize your vacation or holiday time, the guide helps to anticipate and cope with sources of travel stress and manage costs. To develop your awareness, it also incorporates 69 notes on history, people, geography, structures and geology. In addition to the print format, the guide is available for Amazon(R) Kindle and Apple(R) iPad devices. Details: 102 pages; 11" x 8.5"; English; 15 two page color route maps; a single page color overview map; 2 color town maps Also available is a companion guide, ROMAN PROVENCE & RHÔNE ALPES QUEUE SHEETS. It is 9" wide by 6" high for handlebar mounted map cases. Included are all segment directions, elevation profiles, individual route maps and appropriate town maps for all 15 routes. All of these graphics and information are also in the guidebook. a Walter Judson Moore imprint PO Box 490, Inverness FL 34451 USA [email protected] http: //www.amazon.com/Walter-Judson-Moore/e/B003XWAFBG Walter J. Moore is the author of six guidebooks, five companion guides and two novels. He is a North American Travel Journalist Association member. He and his wife live in west central Florida.
