After the thunderstorm on Saturday night and the winds of Sunday, it was a pleasant surprise to wake to a still and clear morning. The temperature rose during the day, but it was crisp as we set off from Sault, heading towards Col d’Homme Mort (Pass of the Dead Man). Sault claims to the world centre of lavender production, and the surrounding fields have plenty on show. Much has already been harvested, but we had the scent of lavender all day, even on the other side of the col. The top of Mt Ventoux could be seen for much of the day, as befits the ‘giant of Provence’. After the Col, it was a largely downhill run through the valley and gorges of the Meouge River. Unlike every other river we have seen, the water in this river was very silty. Possibly due to the recent rains, but it was strange seeing people swimming in the murky water, more like drainage from a building site than river flow. The gorges were spectacular though! There were still some decorations from the Tour de France, which passed along this way last week. A roman bridge indicated that this area has been settled for a very long time! The temperature did get warm enough for the tar to begin bubbling out of the road, and it was necessary to be careful about where you stopped, in case the tyres or shoes got stuck in the melting tar! Riding along some bits of the road was like riding over bubble wrap, as the bubbles popped under the tyres. At the end of the Meourge Valley it was steady climbing until we reached our destination of Serres. Serres is located in a region called Dauphiné which, centuries ago, was traditionally given as a fief to the Dauphin (the heir to the throne). A former medieval stronghold built at the entrance of a pass through which flows the river Buëch, it is rich in local history - notably because of the role of the Duke of Lesdiguières during the religious wars at the end of the 16th century, however at the end of the wars, Cardinal Richlieu ordered that the walls be pulled down.