Mat & Kat's big bike trip
Day 14 Arles
Kat: Started off a bit cool but not windy so we made good progress along the coast after a pitstop for coffee, tea and mosquitoes.
It was almost all bike lanes again, taking us through some pretty, modern coastal developments and a huge salt works until we reached Aigues Mortes. This beautiful town was planned and built in the 13th century, and we had enough time to stop and walk around the ramparts.
By the time we'd finished it was full sunshine. We ate our quiche lunch then hopped back on bikes to head along yet another canal. This was entirely traffic free and great cycling, right up until the last few km where they were relaying the path. A convoy of at least 10 huge trucks carrying gravel passed us on the narrow tow path.
It was during the truck convoy that we met Soren, a US bikepacker heading in our direction. We joined up for the last few kms to Arles and he ended up checking into our hotel (he has a tent but the last camping experience in mosquito territory was suboptimal).
We all went for a drink in a pretty square, then a wander around beautiful Arles and its Roman monuments. Van Gogh lived here for a year and painted 300 pictures in that time. We splurged on a delicious meal in a cute bistro next to the amphitheatre then picked up provisions for the next day before heading to bed.
Love, Kat & Mat x