Bordeaux

Fabrice was very good to us. Forgetting the fact that he'd chased us down the road the night before and tackled me just as I was ringing on the door of another hotel. We were glad he had. He arose early today to give us an early breakfast so we could avoid the expected heat in the afternoon

Preignac, first village and hardly a soul about.

This is Sauterne country . There are 1000's of hectares of grapes in the Bordaeux area and lots of big Chateaux

  All pruned by tractors that straddle the rows. They were out in force this morning

The rows are precisely laid out by laser so mechanical pruning , and picking, can  take place

Here's the old idea

La Brede is a pretty village and the first coffee stop. If you're a flower fan, they're all Petunia's in this town

Just out of Leognan I got a flat . There was a race on and this chap wanted to help fix it. They ALL want to talk rugby down here.

We were heading for another F1 hotel tonight but this one ,Altica, was next door €10 more and flasher .

 What the hell ! Throw the cat another goldfish---

   The receptionist has been replaced by a machine

Langon

Re-tightening the saddle bags as we leave the gite (jeet) for an early start .

  It's nice and cool at this time of day.

We come across a detour. No one around yet so we just move it and carry on ( some trees were dangerous)

A pilgrim that thought it would be easier to use a mule to carry his load. The mule was NOT keen to go on a pilgrimage

'Le Boats 'is a huge hire company with depots all over France. Some people prefer to convert an old barge into a house

People come from all over the world to ride Europes cycleways. Had coffee with these Germans, and swapped tips.

And soon after met Ian and Chris from Ohakune. They had started in Paris and were on their way to Rome. First night in Paris they had their bikes pinched from outside their hotel and had to buy 2 more. 

The canal ends at Castets-en-Dorthe . Nearly there

Now this is what I call a WEEDEATER

The countryside is pretty through here and we change sides on the canal often.

Here it is 😃. From here on boats use the Garonne to reach the ocean

We've been following canals now for over 500kms and it was a nice change to head across country for 9kms to Langdon. The owner here is a huge rugby fan and after the usual bleet about being robbed in the last world cup , he shouted us a beer beside the pool.

Ok that's not us ! Forecast is for 40 degrees tomorrow so we're planning an early start

Damazan

 

It's Sunday morning and as we leave town there's a vide grenier on so we stop for a look

It's the way they do garage sales here. Either the whole town or just a few streets in a suburb will hold one.

  Passed this very unusual wash house , or Laverie , where even up to quite recently, women would do their washing together. By recently I mean 30 years

The kilometres tick over steadily, we pass a nuclear power station

Before long we've done 20kms and arrive in Agen for our coffee fix. Not a spectacular town

except for the 2nd largest canal bridge in France. 580 metres long as it crosses the Garonne 

Look at that sky ! The walkers and cyclists are out in their hundreds ( it's a big town)

This department is the 'Lot and Garonne' and has 100s of acres of apples and kiwi fruit . I don't think they prune them though because they were all a mess !

Lunch time ! And we buy fruit and yogurt at the supermarket in Serignac . Lovely little village , very old , the church is 16th century and the builder must have had a sence of humour judging by the twisted  steeple

And here's a free book stall again. Read the book and visit a web page inside the front cover and say where you've dropped it off. Just a bit of fun but incredible how far a book can travel

  This is Buzet-sur-Baise and where boats can leave the canal and go on the Lot river. 

We pass a Kiwi with his brand new barge he had built in North England

The plain trees are so high and dense here that it's dark and eerie. Sadly it won't be for long though as most trees are showing signs of the canker

These kids don't mind how dirty the water looks

 Time to find a bed . Damazan didn't look hopeful but we eventually tracked down a Chambre on a vineyard , 3 kms out of town