58 miles ridden – 2700 feet climbed – temperature 30C

The last day of a tour is the best day and the worst day rolled into one. Bodies hurt, minds are numb but the joy of the great outdoors and a camaraderie set aside from normal life and based on a single common interest – cycling – is infectious and difficult to give up.

Our route today was up-sold on the basis of a 20 mile downhill to the sea after lunch with only scant mention made of the climb out of Castellane. Actually no one really cared – it was the last climb.

Our first tea break was on a quiet road in a forest and from there to lunch we slowly climbed, almost imperceptably, along the valley floor. Mountains either side, fields, meadows, all led towards the sea.

And finally we came around a corner between two rocks and it felt like the earth fell away. Much of the road had no barrier and given my love of heights, I took my chances with oncoming traffic rather than bicycle-base jumping.

Our final lunch was under a tree canopy in the garden of a restaurant in Greolieres. It was a fabulous bowl of pasta with fresh mountain spring water and immensely civilised. Then the descent started.

These long descents are a mixture of fun and boredom because you actually have to concentrate very hard on the road surface and negotiate turns very carefully in case once you get a full view you find it’s a hairpin and there’s a truck coming up.

Sometimes there is a minor traffic jam when a bunch of cycle tourists stop to take pictures of a waterfall.

And then we finished on the front looking at the Mediterranean Sea. The adventure is over (aside from the 7 mile trip through Nice to our hotel in the back end of nowhere).

Next adventure – the grand opening of the smelly suitcase…….