Mountains mean twisties
I was leaving Dave's to head west to go to John's - another BikeClubFrance member. I turned south instead as the "Best Biking Roads" map said there were some excellent roads in that direction. The book was not wrong. There were some BRILLIANT roads: lovely twisty mountain passes and long sweepers and divine little lakes. I stopped several times at charming villages and detoured a few kilometres to ride ever more enjoyable roads.
The signposts are excellent in France so it's very difficult to get lost. Nevertheless it took me about 6 hours to ride the short distance (as the crow flies) to John's place. I arrived late afternoon just as he was about to send out the search party.