Holiday time at last.Which meant a call to the ever-helpful Fanny (f-nah, f-nah) at Moto Macadam in Montpellier.
This was the second time I've hired from Macadam. My schoolboy French just about managing thanks to Fanny's similar level of English and a little help from Google translate on the pre-arrival emails.
Moto Macadam really puts UK MoCo dealers in the shade - and not only because of the blue skies and 80+ degree temperatures in the South of France. It's great because it's a got a bar as an integral part of the showroom.
You can sip a rose, down a demi or just settle for an expresso in air conditioned comfort while you try to work out how the two bikes on the wall stay there. It's a fantastic meeting place for Les Becanes and also flags up local events:
Sadly I had a schedule to meet and countryside to see so didn't make it along.
After riding back from Montpellier to base in Uzes (about 30-mile north of Nimes) I picked up the other half for a few days biking in the wild Cevennes National Park and the twisty mountain roads between Arles and Florac.
As ever, the French roads outside the cities were a dream. Hardly any vehicles and stunning views in every direction.
The hire bike was a new Heritage (replete with pirate tassels) - great for the long straights but a bit of a handful in the hairpins.
I tried a few riding shots with my phone but it was a tad difficult tapping in the unlock code of Apple's finest at speed so most of the shots are static.
The sheer bliss & freedom was beyond words. I just wanna get down there on the Freaker some day.
Merci Fanny!
