Le Tour de France 2013: Stage 7

Despite our very late evening yesterday, we were up at 4:15am (1:15pm in France) and at the door of Mount Bakery in downtown Bellingham at 5:02a.m. to watch Stage 7 of the Tour de France, Montpellier/Albi.

Part of today's route went through the area of southern France where we have been six times, staying in small villages and one memorable year, singing with the local choir and a smaller chamber group in a village church.

We knew we'd be too late to see chaiselongue as the riders flowed through Gabian, but we'd hoped to see 5000vines on the bridge at Hérépian. That probably happened just as we walked into the door at Mount Bakery and sat through a long series of advertisements on the TV.

Coffee sustained us for a while, but knowing that Mount Bakery is known for its croissants, when today's were ready Phil chose the almond ones for us, loaded with almond paste and utterly delicious!

The speed and fitness of the cyclists mesmerized me, and it was wonderful to see glimpses of the French countryside in between the extensive coverage of the cyclists. I think I may have finally found a sport that I enjoy watching, and it was great to feel connected to our French friends in this way and in "real time"!

(Here's Phil's view of the morning, complete with a TV outside the cafe!)

(You can see the route in detail here, as well as links to Pézenas, Roujan, Gabian, Faugères, and Hérépian, all of which we've visited on our holidays in Hérault.)

P.S. My local friend CelloNerd was among this week's Blipfoto staff picks -- see why here!