Friday photos and Saturday blog

Lunch by the river junction between the Vezier and the Dordogne:



Luxury of camping on grass:



Saturday:
Trains




Stopped for a drink in La Rochelle before cycling onto the Ile de Re:



Monday dinner:




The Internet connection where we are staying has been terrible, hence late posting.

Sally

A day early

Up at 7 and out of campsite by 8. Quick coffee at the tabac where we ate the night before and then 20 km to Bergerac. Sally looked for an English bookstall on the market (without success) while I had a coffee. Then off to the station. Tickets to La Rochelle cost 38 euros each, changing at Bordeaux. Arrived at the magnificent station in La Rochelle at 16:14. Went shoe shopping at the Tsonga store, but Sal didn't find anything she liked. Paid almost 7 euros for 2 orangina drinks and called camp site on Il de Re to see if we could come a day early - and here we are, ready for our last night of camping. Pictures to follow tomorrow when internet sorted.

Friday nightmare on eurostar

We had a lovely day pottering from Les Eyzies-de-Tayac to Couze-et-St-Front. Meanwhile, Jack, Cat, Han and Alex had a Eurostar nightmare; late train to Paris and let down by booked taxi. They missed their next train but somehow got the bagged bikes across Paris without a taxi and on the metro. Top marks. Speaking of which - Jack got his degree result, a 2:1, fantastic.

Back in the Dordogne, we had a picnic lunch at the confluence of the Vezere and the Dordogne, watching people wade across or swim in the current.

Visited a couple of churches with remains of 13th century frescos and arrived at Couze around 5pm.

Slightly odd town with a lot of traffic. Currently sitting at local tabac having a beer.

Pictures to follow when we get some WiFi.

Thursday-pictures

Campsite:


Amazing lunch:


Campsite we stayed at 9 years ago in two £20 Argos tents:


Swimming pool we are going in next:


Sally

Lazy day

Just back from cycling up to St Leon-Sur-Vezere - not very far but quite hilly. Found a cafe at St Leon and had a plate of assorted cheese with rustic bread and 2 beers. It was a wonderful setting by the river and very relaxing - Sally should be posting a photo very soon. Came back on a road that passed Le Paradis camp site - we stayed here with the children 10 years ago and had a great holiday (though I can remember very little now apart from causing a lot of embarrassment when we moved the tents). Still hilly on the way home (now with beer in legs) and currently doing internet stuff at the camp site. Swim next.

Wednesday

Cycled up a big hill to the small town of Domme. Fantastic views designated two stars by Michelin and therefore full of tourist tat.



Back down the hill for coffee and apple brioche:


No sign of any apple in them. Incredible bunch of posing english teenagers at next table, smoking French cigarettes and talking about what daddy does etc. All bought about four packs of cigs each, so obviously not allowed out much.

Overcast and cooler today, even some rain which we avoided by stopping for a drink. Done lots of Michelin star rated places today, this area is packed with them. We generally find that cycling through them is quite sufficient on the tourism front.

Staying at a campsite in Les Eyzies, going to stop for a couple of nights and do some unloaded cycling. Great meal last night:



30 miles cycled.

Sally

End of heat wave

Looks like the scorchio weather has come to an end. Last night at Rocamadour it was 36 degrees and now, near Sarlat its around 22. At least it should be easier to sleep and cycle.

Talking of which, after visiting the ancient bit of Rocamadour this morning we headed off in the wrong direction and added 7 miles to the route. On the other hand it was very beautiful if not hilly. Eventually found the river Dordogne and the riding was much easier.

Shared a pizza for lunch in a small village next to church wall. Served by someone around Jack's age who moved here when he was 2 (I assume his parents were involved).

Checked out a few sites before finding one that fits our ill defined set of requirements. Had swim in river followed by shower followed by beer.

Total 44 miles today.

Tuesday pictures

Cycling past Rocamadour before we got lost:


Andy writing today's blog. Free wifi at campsite bar:



Sally

Monday- another scorcher

Both very pleased with our decision to travel by train today.

Last night we did our usual thing of forgetting it was Sunday, then being surprised by all the closed shops- no food. Had a large and excessively cheesy pizza in a lovely tree-shaded square, lots of communication from Hannah and Jack who were spending their Sunday evening on the hard shoulder of the M1 waiting for rescue. Bad luck H&J, but lovely talking to you!

Today:



Harsh way to treat bikes.

We have traveled about 100 miles today, only 4 of those by bicycle! We were so hot when we got off the train in Rocamadour that we checked into the campsite opposite the station- about three miles put of town. Sat there and cooled down for a bit, decided it was an awful place ( view of the toilet block from every dismal pitch), so now camped in lovely site in centre of this small town. Still hot. 8am on bikes tomorrow to avoid the heat. Free wifi, so long-winded blog! Off to find cake next.

Sally

Sunday- hotter and hotter

Up early this morning and on the road by 8.45, lovely and cool. By 10.30, the sun was scorching hot. After a coffee in Millau and a quick look at the impressive road bridge, we set off up a big hill. We didn't get far before we both decided that it was insane to continue. We went back down the hill to the station, researched trains to take us to the Dordogne tomorrow and went for lunch. Now camped next to the river Tarn.

Lunch:


Camping:




Off for a swim in the river next.

Sally

Gorge du Tarn

Spectacular day of cycling, done 40 miles and still not quite at the end of the gorge.




Sally

Cols, cols, cols

Yesterday we did our biggest climbs ever. Several cols on a road that ran along ridges rather than valleys. The highest point was over 1000m, which is quite high for us. The descent went on for about 5 miles, finishing in Florac. Fifty two miles.



Sally

Campsite breakfast

Sally

Cardet camping

Sally

Morning

We have no fuel for our burner- well, only enough for a cup of tea (thanks Eurostar). The tiny place we are staying at had nowhere to eat, but luckily the campsite did a fairly decent steak, salad and chips. *remember to buy fuel today.

Off to find some hills next.

Sally

Yes its warm!

The remarkable news is that the south of France is warmer than buckinghamshire. Avignon to pont de Gard was as dull as we remembered from 3 years ago. Things better after that. More hills but rolling riding. Forgot to buy fuel for stove so have to eat at bar. It's a tough life.

Off we go...

Everything packed and loaded onto the bikes ready:


Andy all ready to face the weather- he has cleverly achieved a flat cap look by placing his saddle cover over his baseball cap. Will it catch on?



...and the rain is coming down in bucket loads outside. We delay for quarter of an hour and it looks as if it is improving so we leave. Totally drenched by the time we reach Tring station. Even wetter going between Euston and St Pancras, possibly wetter than Scotland.

Checked bikes in at the station- I do hope they turn up in Paris.

They turned up in Paris swinging from hooks on a trolley- painful to see. Mad dash across Paris on bikes, just caught our next train. Now in Avignon, warm and dry.

Sally

Preparations

Will it all fit on the bike?


Sally