As we wake we lie watching the sun creep down the mountainside lighting up the colours in the rocks and signalling another warm day to come. We use the service point before leaving, but an airlock in the water tank blows back and Ali gets a big soaking.

Our drive takes us over a gorge, then down its steep sides on a road limited to 25mph in places. In the massive valley are smaller mountains and a few waterfalls. Once we leave the gorge and the high alps, the landscape becomes much flatter with straighter roads, lined with miles of apple orchards, that form the 'Napoleon Route'. Nick comments that for a bloke with little legs he certainly got about a bit, and Ali replies; 'A bit like you then'.

As we are 'getting about a bit', we are passed by groups of old Volvo cars all bearing a rally board, 20 odd cars in all. There are also signs and references to the Tour de France which runs a stage over these roads in a few days time.

It is 36C by the time we reach the fortress town of Sisteron and get the last two slots in the aire. There is a panoramic view over the River Durance and its flood plain. Above us is a rock pinnacle with the large citadel.

Dinner tonight is a simple bowl of freshly peeled, large prawns with our last bottle of white wine from Jadruhi in Croatia followed by an early night trying to cool down.