Coming from Spain, France’s idea of having fun at the beach is noticeably different. More planning, lots of ‘animations’, hurray-hurray ‘we’re having so much fun’ type activities and lots of ClubMed-style places everywhere. The French seem much more focused on having activities going on than just relaxing. I might have just stumbled across a stretch of the coast that has a concentration of such places.
I’m leaving a day earlier as my family – I have arranged to meet with a work colleague of mine that lives in southern France close to Nice and couch-surf at his place for a night, before heading home. My family will spend the day horseback riding along the beaches and salt flats.
As usual, I get up bright and early to get some distance done before the great heat begins.
![Another early day start](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_055659-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
My trip starts by navigating out of the large carpark of our gated community.
![The start of another day TWIKEing - bye bye family](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_055731-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
Then, I get treated to another of nature’s spectacles – sunrise over the Camargue’s salt flats.
![The salt flats of the Camargue](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_060244-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![Camargue salt flats](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_060519-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![Sunrise over the Camargue](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_063212-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![Early morning Aigues-Mortes](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_061030-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![Small French villages](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_075204-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
Breakfast is something I was really looking forward to. I was visualizing a small bakery in a small village where I would be getting the buttery croissants I love and a milky café au lait … which is exactly what I got! Yum. (Add in the pain au chocolat you can see on the picture below and you’ll know I had the butter/carbs punch I needed for the day)
![Buttery croissants with café au lait](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_071923-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
From there, the road took me across southern France, crossing more small villages and rural landscapes devoid of people.
![Hmm. hills ahead](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_101746-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
The last hills before the sea felt quite alpine – lots of hairpin bends and tight roads.
![The highest climb for today - 400 m ASL](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_114245-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
All along the road there were signs of wildfires – recent and less recent.
![Burnt earlier this year](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_114640-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
After recuperating 400m back into the battery, I was ready for some easy coastal TWIKEing. Why not start with St. Tropez?
![Heading to the coast](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_115455-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
And with that, I finally was back to driving from small village to small village along the sea towrads Cannes. I could have gotten out of the TWIKE every 1-2 km and shoot a similar image to the one below. The views were stunning and the coast just magnificent.
![Close to Saint-Tropez](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_140701-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
Cruise control engaged! Maximum enjoyment: #gogogo
![Enjoying the Côte d'Azur](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_125424-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
The presence of lots of money can be felt everywhere. The types of cars on the road, quality of infrastructure and the types of restaurants vying for me as a customer.
![The joys of TWIKEing along a coast - this view never gets old](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_133120-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
I always like to take the time to park my TWIKE somewhere prominent, take a picture and wait to see what happens. Here… nothing. The TWIKE just sat there and enjoyed the view.
![Just outside of Cannes](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_133048-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
In Cannes, the TWIKE attracted quite some attention. I drove along the seafront road with all the high couture shops and hotels I used to stay, such as the Hôtel Barrière Majestic I previously wrote about in 2017.
![Cannes](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_144836-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
All the luxury made me think what good could be done to vast amounts of people in this world if its value were better distributed.
![Cannes port](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_145115-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
Just 20 km later I arrived at Biot and was welcomed by my work colleague, Yarden, who had already chilled some rosé wine bottles and invited me to cool off by having a dip in the swimming pool!
We then headed out to Biot, a small medieval town perched on a hill which was full of people enjoying life and having a great time enjoying the very agreeable evening temperatures.
Yarden and I had an Apèro on Biot’s main square before driving to the Michelin star holding restaurant nearby he had reserved for us that evening.
![Biot village square - 120% Frenchness](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_195031-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
Arriving at the restaurant, the valet parking guy was apologetic: Sir, we at Les Terraillers offer you a complementary valet parking service. I am, however, afraid I will not be able to park your vehicle for you – please accept my sincere apologies! …Not a problem at all. (I already had the same kind of apology when attempting to park at Gstaad’s Palace hotel in 2016)
![Valet parking for all...except for TW560](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_213836-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
For us, after parking the TWIKE at the very front of the parking lot, the fun started.
Super dedicated people working to give us the best dining experience possible.
![We have some pre-dinner drinks - made at our table](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_202730-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
The prices were … how shall I say it … elevated. The food quality, presentation and taste made up for it without any problem.
![Enjoying French cuisine](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_210656-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![I'm a sucker for innovative presentation](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_203304-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![A soufflé is always a good way to end a meal](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_222939-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
After 4 courses and as many amuse bouches, we returned to his house to charge the TWIKE and retire…well fed.
This was a great day, yet again.
Tomorrow, I will have to work at least during the morning and will enjoy lunch with Yarden’s parents before leaving northwards – La Cime de la Bonette, the >2800m pass I was unable to cross during TDAF2016 is awaiting…and this year, with freezing points at around 5700m, I will not be facing the danger of the pass being closed due to snow end of June or in my case end of July!
![TDE2022 Day 12 stats](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220728_155350-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C303&ssl=1)
![TDE2022 Day 12 GPS track](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screenshot-from-2022-08-01-13-11-15.png?resize=640%2C241&ssl=1)
![TDE2022 Day 12 elevation profile](https://i0.wp.com/emissionless.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/20220801043253-08202-profile.png?resize=640%2C387&ssl=1)