The last few days have been warming up but this morning our high altitude [3950 ft] and the wind have dragged it down to 2deg.
We ues the service point and set off, through the town of Pradelles which doesn't look nearly as inviting as it did on our previous ride through.
Soon we are on the D906, the switchback main road through the Ardeches and Cevennes. As we descend the mist lifts revealing some snow remaining on the distant mountain tops. The road is every bit as twist and impressive as it was three years ago but then it was our ffirst real mountain drive and today is far less daunting. Some of the views are better this way, lookig over ravines to the rivers below. We pull over frequently, either for photos or to let faster traffic on its way.
There is lots of new growth in the pine trees, pale green aganst the older dark foliage.
We stop for coffee and lunch in the little town of Chamborigaud, happy of the shade as it's now 17 deg. A few more miles of twists and turns brings us to Ales where we stop for fuel, then it's dual carriageway most of the way to Nimes which is really busy, stop start two and three lane traffic and a dozen or so each of lights and roundabouts.
By the time we clear Nimes the temperature has risen to 19 and we see lots of blossom and bright bouganvillea. Summer's here! We pull into the marina/camperstop in Bellagarde - somewhere we almost came to last summer - for a cold drink then take the last ten miles to Domaine Mas de Rey just outside Arles. Along the way we see white Carmargue horse and some have foals whose coats are still fluffy and black. For a while we are a even few feet below sea level.
We reach the vineyard and head down its long drive. The vines are just little stumps with tinges of green. We came here on our 2014 grand tour, and stayed three nights as Nick had a strained back.
At 18:00 we wander down for tasting and recount our previous long stay. Madame remembers.
The huge antique cabinet and paintings are still here ad the wine is good. We buy three types of red, some tapenade and some pickled chestnuts. After five free nights so far we can be extravagant!
Is it only a week since we were waiting to board te ferry?
Belgian and Swiss vans arrive before we settle back inside.
It's still really warm but the Mistral is blowing hard.
There is a lovely sunset over the vines and it's good to feel warm, and to proe yesterday's science lesson Ali's inflatable globe is soft again.

CD of the day: Dennis Locorrierre - Out of the Dark
Dinner: Pasta, meatballs and Mas de Rey wine.