Then came a glimmer of hope!  We might not be able to go exploring in the afternoon, but we did have to go to
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue to visit one of our favorite Antiques Shops – the appointed time -Thursday morning – great!
The Thursday Market in Isle-sur-la -Sorgue is much less well known than the Sunday Market,
which means that it is also much less busy!
OK ….. we’ll do some lunch shopping, go to Altiero on the Road to le Thor, take care of bedheads and nightstands and any other "antiquites"  that are appropriate and stop on the way back for a picnic!   

With picnic basket and cooler in hand we set out.  First stopping at our usual places at the market – the charcuterie was in the Place de l Eglise, right by the Café de Paris,  as were the olives , tapenade and hummus.  The fruit and veggies are on the corner right there also. Not too far away and around the corner  is the Boulanger. OK bread taken care of.  Oh, while we’re here – just let me take a look at the little store facing the river, near Le Nego Chin (one of our favorite restaurants for lunch after the Sunday market) – they always have great mirrors and other decorative items.

With all that taken care of, we set out for Altiero.  We had already made many purchases there for Maison des Pèlerins, five years ago – many of our friends had also purchased pieces from there also. Most notably, our cast iron antique fountain (Monsieur Lion) , and our iron bead heads at Maison had come from there.  This time we were in search of a dining table.  As usual, they had the answer.  We found an old cast iron frame on which rested a round glass table top – perfect! 
The convertible top on "la Coccinelle" (our new Beetle cabriolet)  back – loaded with the table frame and top 
.................. we left Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. 

It was time for lunch.................
 

Leaving Isle sur la Sorgue and driving through Velleron, the fields one either side of the road were in bloom, like quilt patches of red and blue flowers with some white here and there. This area grows all manner of wonderful fruit, vegetables and flowers.  We found a turn out right on the main road between Isle sur la Sorgue and  Carpentras – on the banks of the River Sorgue, with tables and benches, in the grassy area.  There are many such places on roads all throughout the region.  We parked and unpacked our picnic.   Hummous, Anchoiade and Tapenade to start, the main course was charcuterie, local cheeses with fresh tomatoes, olives, cucumber and radishes with a crusty fresh baguette. Dessert was an Apple Tarte and fresh fruit.

 As we finished lunch, a little family of ducks swam by, a mother and her petite ….. they ambled by, stopping to nibble on bread from the picnickers, staying close to the bank.   

What a relaxing way to spend an hour on an otherwise busy day. It is so easy to find a picturesque spot on any road in Provence to stop for a picnic in the middle of the most hectic day!

 Picnics in Provence are the easiest picnics in the world to put togeither ........ they are also relaxing and  a lot of fun -especially in the middle of a hectic touring day ............... so.................. Allez............. Faire du Picque-Nicque!