Having had a tot-up last night, I decided to do a slightly longer ride today, to bring me up to 300 miles for my first week. Given the heat, that most of the rides have been morning or evening ones, and my relative out-of-formness, I’m happy with that.

Anyway, another standard loop, but one I don’t think I’ve done since last summer: Col de la Chaudière, Bourdeaux, Saoû, Aouste, and back home – 70 miles. I was out of the house by 8.15am, when it was a ‘chilly’ 17C, and back for a late salad lunch. All very beautiful, even with the ongoing drought and low river levels.

The weather seems to be set for the next few days with cooler mornings followed by hot afternoons with very strong northerly gusts, so I’ll probably be aiming for morning rides and lunches at home: it’s no fun battling strong gusty headwinds, and I’ll admit it’s nice to be in the relative cool of my house – it’s currently 25C indoors (and yes, that feels cool), and 33C outdoors (which definitely feels warm).

So today’s jaunt was an absolutely standard one of 51 miles up the Quint Valley, over the Col de la Croix, down to Blacons and the Boulangerie Borie, and back along the Drôme. Lovely!

As forecast, clouds and rain appeared this morning: a good splash just after I’d got in from beating the bounds, and though better than noting, it’ll hardly make a difference to the massive deficit. But I managed to collect some bucketfuls for the garden, and also having done some basic plumbing in order to recycle water from the kitchen sink for watering, I think most of my plants and trees are feeling happier now. At least they’ve had a good drenching before the heat returns next week.

And, as so often here, after a wet and grey morning, brilliant sun returned later, so I just had to go out for a short ride, before my sausage supper. Saint Roman, Menglon, Luzerand and Recoubeau provided the entertainment.

You can probably guess which one: just up to Col de Rousset, out via St Agnan, and back via Vassieux. I know that my legs are still not in form, so this lumpy 88km route, on a coolish sunny morning, was the perfect first Vercors ride of the summer.

A pleasure, of course, though sad to see how the drought has taken its toll even on Vercors: lots of yellow grass, and the beech trees are even turning brown and losing their leaves – something I’ve nover seen in the summer.

Still, on the plus side, a younger cyclist, who thought he would overtake me on the climb to Col de Rousset, wasn’t able to make his ‘attack’ last for more than a few minutes, and having given me an incentive to push on, was nowhere to be seen when I reached the col. I should grow up really…

A day that’s worked out well: not only was I able to get the house down to under 25C overnight (that’s actually really pleasant), but while I waited for a chap to come and install a smart meter (date booked back at Easter), I go the lawn mown, did a pile of sheets from June, watered the thirsty plants with the resulting ‘grey water’ (it’s now illegal to water plants direct from the tap, given the drought), and then right on cue, the chap from Enedis turned up and fitted the meter. All done by 10am

With it being quite warm in the afternoons, and my legs not yet being up to full form, I then did a ride to Col de Pennes, via Barnave: it’s got some cool sheltered bits on the ascent, and the descent via Aucelon is always a delight.

And it was interesting to see the rivers – all very low, of course. The Roanne was a not-limpid turquoise, but running gently, the Drôme a rather alarming shade of green trickle at Pontaix, but a healthier colour, and more of it, at Die. If we don’t get any rain before the end of August, it’s not looking good for the farming or ecology of the area. They’ve even turned off all the water fountains, which is going to make route planning more of a challenge!

I arrived yesterday evening, and what with rather rubbish internet, a bit of a random storm (though not enough to make any difference to the ongoing drought), and feeling tired (can’t think why), I ended up not posting anything about my arrival. Actually, all was easy, and went to plan, including lunch in Valence with a couple of French friends, before I caught the buses to Die, and walked up the Meyrosse Valley.

I’m glad to report that the scorching temperatures and drought haven’t killed the new plants in the garden, if if the blueberry is an ex-blueberry. I’ve not given up on it yet though, and it will be getting extra doses of recycled washing-up water (there’s a ban on using fresh water for watering).

Anyway, today was the traditional lavender hunt – what with the heat and my being a few days later this year, most of it has been harvested, and what’s left is rather dull in colour. But in my two rides – the first on the Colnago to Ponet and Marignac, the second on the Falcon to Chamaloc via the col de Romeyer – there was more than enough to bring a smile to the face and a delightful scent to the nose.

Well, maybe not at Roissy-en-France as such, near Charles de Gaulle airport… but once I’m on the TGV to Valence, then my six-week summer break will feel real.

Despite an hour’s delay at Bristol Airport last night, a taxi whisked me away to my hotel nearby, and a great breakfast has opened me up for the day. I suspect I might take a picture or two en route to Romeyer.