MTB route: Perthus/Castelli loop (30k/800m)
Area: Esterel
I've wanted to do some proper mountain biking in the Esterel for years. This wasn't really that, but it was at least a brief taster. The campsite has purchased decent bikes for hire, with good suspension, so we all hired them and left the site around 9.30. We did a version of my favourite 'Perthus' running route (done as a fartlek loop on Sunday) but tagged on a few extra sections to expand on the route we did last time we hired bikes four years ago when the children were far smaller! They still found it hard going in the heat though. I had an embarrassing crash almost immediately, testing the breaks on an off road section! Lost some motor function in my thumb for a week as a result. Steady climbing past Roussiveau, then a break at the shady Gorge du Perthus. From the Col de Mistral, we headed off-road for a bit, towards the Pic de l'Ours, but Kate didn't enjoy it much. So we headed back down via the viewpoint above the Col de Belle Barbe: this looks out over the Ecureille valley and involved another off-road section. Back via the cycle path, after which I went on a long extension down to the Carrefour Castelli, all off road, then along the Castelli piste back to Roussiveau and then back to the campsite. There is a very long marked MTB circuit of the Esterel: one for the next visit.
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