Here are some photos taken from my trip to France in July 2008. I flew into Toulouse on Tuesday 15th and the following day, travelled to Cavaillon, south-west of Avignon, to join up with the rest of the group (twenty of us in total). On a very warm and sunny Thursday we rode to Mont Ventoux, the "Giant of Provence". After spending 2 nights in Cavaillon we travelled north to the pretty university city of Grenoble to stay for the remainder of the trip.

I managed more than 1000km of cycling during the nine days. Scenery was spectacular in the Alps, as always. We rode some old favourite routes such as Mont Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez as well as exploring some new territory such as the Col de la Croix de Fer, Chamrousse, and the hills of the historic Vercors region which was a major hiding place for the French Resistance during World War 2. The region is dotted with monuments to the people of the Resistance.

I was quite lucky with the weather - plenty of warm-hot sunshine with only one day when it rained. And it really did rain. Riding down the descent from the ski village of Chamrousse back into Grenoble, visibility was near zero for a time. I haven't been that wet in a long time!