Hi all
I've got 5 days off and am thinking that this might be my only chance to do a mini-tour of Provence while I'm still fluent in French. The only problem is my time limit. I can leave Vichy, where I work, on May 31 in the afternoon and have to be back on June 5, so at least one day of traveling on each side and about 4-5 days of touring depending on the train schedules and where I start from.
I've been thinking Luberon, but I have some limitations. This will be my first real tour, I don't have a tent and am not sure I want to buy one just for this, and I would be fine credit-card touring if I can keep the cost somewhat reasonable. Maybe couchsurfing? I also have a sleeping bag and thermarest, so just sleeping out would be an option but since I'm a girl going all alone I might prefer to stay in cheap 'gites' or whatever I could find along the way. I'm in good shape, I bike about 10 miles everyday to/from work, and I ride my road bike two times a week. Plus I've got time to train. But I like to take my time, explore things, drink wine, eat cheese...what are your suggestions? What's the best place to go if you only have four days and don't want to ride more than 6 hours a day? And just how easy is it to take a bike on a TGV without putting it in a box (if I put it in a bike box I don't have any way to even get to the train station or transfer trains)? Thanks!