French Forest Fire and Gump Moments

We knew about the Tour de France, but like typical tourists only knew it was somewhere in France and coming somewhere nearby sometime.  A Canadian at our hotel said he thought it was going to be on Wednesday. We were going to be gone by then.

The day after visiting – or trying to visit – Mont Ventoux and encountering 1000s of biking enthuisiasts, we went to Chateauneuf du Papes.

We drank some of this.

As we roamed the streets of  town we thought it seemed a little – quiet. It was a beautiful Saturday. Where were all the people? We thought it might be  the economy

The Nice airport at the crack of dawn yesterday was filled with bikers. This was our first hint that the race was over. Then there was a glimpse of a French newspaper with a picture of the racers crossing the finish line in Paris?

Damn those boys ride fast.

It turns out they were probably going across the mountains pictured here at about the time we were leaving Chateauneuf du Papes.  On Saturday.

The vast majority of the French population were probably at home watching the race on television. Think French version of a Super Bowl party.

If you zoom in you can see airplanes – French versions of “bambi buckets.” We sat fascinated at lunch watching them go pick up water in the Rhone River and fly over to put out a small  forest fire – which you can just make out too.

We thought we were kinda smart knowing that the fire was probably sent by our roadside campers from yesterday’s outing – you know – the ones who were camping not one, but three days ahead of the tour’s arrival?

I received verification of this fire that was burning at the same time as the Tour de France passed through in The Guardian – a UK paper on the airplane:

Apparently there’s a forest fire at the foot of Mont Ventoux about 15km from the finish line of today’s stage. With 500,000 spectators reported to be lining the route up the mountain, it could have been started by a rogue cigarette butt, somebody passing the time until the cyclists arrive by murdering ants with a magnifying glass and the sun, or with a jerrycan of petrol and a Zippo lighter. I’m not sure how bad it is, but there is a airplane used for firefighting flying overhead.

Is a little ignorance bliss, or are we just stupid? Or both? Don’t feel as if you have to answer that.

I’m leaving town tomorrow to see family.  No wireless service. I’ve missed everyone and thank you all for your visits. I promise I will drop and visit your blogs soon!