Kev`s observational skills were tested early on when i stopped at St.Gery with a produce market happening knowing Kev`s desire to stock up in case of an imminent end to the planet and also knowing that there was little likelihood of much else being open in France on a Sunday !
As expected despite standing at the entrance to the town market Kev road straight past me even though looking in my general direction !
I was quick enough to yell before he disappeared through town and set him off on securing some lunch which he did coming back with 10kgs of fruit and a 3 foot long baquette straight out of the oven - a light lunch even by H`s standards !
Our delightful Lot Valley cycle ended as we entered peaceful Cahors. We took time to reflect and the opportunity to take refuge from the sun by sitting down near the Lot river admiring the river craft passing under the14th C Pont Valentre bridge with its stylish 6 gothic arches.
Working our way out of town we finally spied an open servo with an air hose the first we had seen in over 300 kms - hallelujah !!! My sagging back tyre was exceptionally greatful !
The 5 km climb out of Cahors was testing in the heat even though the gradient was only 3-5% - we were soon heading across miles of open pastures and farm lands not much to look at but in Kevs words still great to enjoy at the speed we were going (slow) and the wind in our faces !
We stopped briefly at Lascabanes to rest and bumped into a French cyclist touring with a pack that would have put Ross to shame (had room for about two pairs of jocks!) - in talking ( a cross between sign language and braille) we discovered that most water fountains in towns were drinkable unless signed otherwise - our friend also recommended water from cemeteries saying that it had to be good to keep the flowers alive - the logic sounded reasonable but I don't suppose there are too many living people to challenge the claim !
With it really starting to heat up and knowing there was a climb of two ahead, we pulled into the medieval gem of a town called Lauzerte situated on a steep hill top with fine views all round.
Having ascended to the top once to the tourist info place we decided that we would do it all over again as in trying to find our booked hotel we suddenly found ourselves leaving town at the bottom of the hill
- a quick back track and another steep climb in the heat was much more enjoyable the 2nd time around !
After finally booking in i walked back up to the top to refill with a couple cokes while H did his washing opening the windows to our formerly cool room to accommodate his drying clothes ... I know, I know, I`m beginning to sound like Henleys nagging wife !
Well we are slowly but surely getting closer to the Spanish border and after 6 weeks on the go in need i think of a couple of days of R & R !
Our concerns now are not about the rain but about how hot the weather will get particularly as we venture into Spain !
PS - Thx to all those posting comments - it is much appreciated
Pps - Ross is closing in on Bayonne on schedule having had an average day yesterday with a no. of technicolour yawns from something he ate - he reports being much better today and is still a good 150 kms in front of us !
I'm sure others have asked, but what on earth is Henley doing lifting up the cobblestone road?????
ReplyDeleteEnjoying the trip with you and now just a little over a week before we leave for La Belle France.
Cheers,
B2
B2, it's obvious. He wants to bring them home to Perversi so that it's just that much harder when we get back from Whittlesea.
ReplyDeleteW1