Day 43 - Bousies France - 67 kms

The overnight suggestion to leave the hotel rooms shutters and windows closed to prevent bats and other nocturnals from flying in was not the best in hindsight allowing us to sleep in till nearly 8.30 and nearly miss Kevs favorite time of the day - breakfast !

With Kev bouyed by talking to Marysia and Chris back home and self with Monika we started the day with new found energy !

It didn't really last that long, in trying to work our way out of busy Figeac I sent Kev 400 meters up the road to check the sign posts only to realize that as soon as he was on his way the sign post we needed was right behind us ..... Kev enjoyed the exercise !

After 6 kms through the industrial outskirts of Figeac we turned off on to the beautiful Cele river valley route that just got more stunning as the day progressed.

With the quiet flat roads (yes flat !) we powered along taking in the wonderful scenery. This was in fact the same cycle that we had taken in 2011 with Viv & Linton when spending a week in the Dordogne and it is a real gem.

Not only forming part of the Camino the trail winds its way through beautiful towering limestone cliffs overhanging the road and in parts almost providing a canyon effect. In this area in France cave drawings have been found indicating some of the earliest recorded evidence of man some 20.000 + years ago.

We pulled off the road to quickly visit Espagnac and St Sulpice with the later containing troglodyte cave houses built into the cliff face as well as the hedge that my sister successfully jammed our 10 seater tarago into 2 years back - the hedge has thankfully regrown !

The village of Marchillac sur Cele once amazingly wealthy shows how time can forget with its run down houses and its 9th century abbey ruins - amazing !

A beautiful cycle under overhanging cliffs to Carabats and more cliff built houses before we emerged from a rock tunnel to take in the spectacular Circq la Poppie perched high on a cliff from overlooking the Lot Valley

Having grinded our way to the top Kev went in search of a baguette with his memory of two years back pointing him in the right direction. A lovely village it was non the less bulging with tourists so a few photos later and lunch and we were on our way.
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A 10 second descent before realizing we should still be climbing resulted in a back track up the 12-15% gradient this time bypassing Cirq LA Poppie - Henleys comments were short LITCHFIELD %$#& !!!

From the top it was an amazing 4 km cycle along roads perched on the valley cliff side as we cycled in the direction of nearby of Bousies - well at least i thought the views were stunning taking heaps of photos !

H having sailed past with hjs headcam on had thought he'd made a wrong turn again and fearful of my wrath was half way back up to the lookouts before i cycled past him - ive got it on headcam said Henley !

At Bousies (poulation 85) we a found a great hotel situated right on the river complete with swimming pool for just 53 euros (note for wife Monika )

Ater a goodly dinner we crossed the river bridge to go exploring in nearby caves and view the remains of the troglodyte buildings - `no afl back in those days .. must have been tough said H !

The Weather continues to be great with a 30 c day to come !