see bellow...As trip reports go, this one is missing something.....
‘M off - To southern France (aka Sid’)
- Thread starter EVskiy
- Start date
Ahh, you shall be corrected....Lots of red wine and bed at 2:30am is liable to do that to a man…
And then they got lost and arrived at Sids 3 days later
Nope. Nobody got lost, at least not with my navigational skills.And then they got lost and arrived at Sids 3 days later
What, with that tiny nav screen
Thursday morning.
We get a rude awakening at 04:30am (UK) from my overly loud and flashing phone alarm, following by an annoying alarm from the boats system.
Obluted, we got dressed and with our prised possessions, headed for breakfast. We meet Colin up here. A chinwag accompanied by a coffee and a couple of pastries later, we were soon on our way down to the cad decks.
Here we bump into the owner of the easier mentioned 1150 GSA. Apparently he's a hot air balloon pilot, who was son his way to France to renew his licence before heading back.
He as wished us a pleasant journey and was on his way in no time at all.
Meanwhile we had a new faffer on our trip, with his newly acquired VFR 800 and its side loading clamshells*
I kid you not, we were the last to leave the boat whilst said gaffer has repacked his toys
Eventually, we were on the move, having wasted enough time already, I though sod it, and stopped to take photo of this sunrise*.
*The delay of of 11 minutes (that is how long it took to clear the boat of all vehicles, but the trucks and trailers bellow us) meant we are now sat in an amongst the wobbly boxes, people carriers, and SUVs packed full to the rafters with young families of seven and all of their kit, but a kitchen sink.
The pedantic French at the tea hut has asked me to remove my flip-front lid FFS. I was getting grumpy by now, having been sat beside a G reg Mercedes van spewing out diesel fumes out of its exhaust for a duration of at least half an hour, whilst pretentious hipster, of a top knotted Tw*t behind the wheel of it was (ahem) "saving the planet" by living off grid.
We break fee of the port gates, and instantly get stuck behind a Volvo on UK plates, who's driver was hesitating whether the green light was for them or for the others, resulting in a piss boiling moment, and me undertaking the numpty.
It is now somewhere nearing 08:00 and we are out of Ouistreham heading towards Caen, then onto N814 and straight as an arrow N158, which eventually does become A88 just past Falaise. We stay on A88 for a mere few kilometres and peeling off at Junction 11.1 as the next junction just 5 km up the road, would become the dreaded piage. We headed towards Le Mans on D958. It is a fresh August morning with temperature fluctuating between 17º-19ºc, whilst I am wearing nothing more than a moisture wicking t-shirt and a fully vented mesh Rukka jacket and trousers. I make a decision to pull into a lay-by and put on my Scott Ergo WP jacket. Skid followed suit, and wore his too. We set off after as it is by now fast approaching 09:00 and I feel a coffee is in order, as it been at least 2.5 hours since I've had a coffee onboard the boat.
MRA doing a good job guiding us on a preplanned route and we were about to peel off onto a D438, when I see this sign, "Sées, a small town of character" I instantly feel a need to poke my nose into it and we are not disappointed, with a display of a grand Cathedral Notre-Dame de Sées
as we roll into to the main square.
We park up neatly on the pavement opposite the cathedral and find ourselves inside a lovely little family run bakery...
...where boys have picked a baguette sandwich each, a brownie and three coffees...
...whilst I just had a dozen of my favourite.
Chouquettes.
A quick mooch in the square, as I had noticed a WWII Tank parked up.
We are back on the road, having had a quick chat and a rethink of a route being taken down south, as Skid wanted to investigate a campsite that he has been offered to come and stay at, by a fellow who has purchased his partners vehicle from Blighty. Feeling like I need to be part of the gang, I make a decision to go along with it opting to split the route into two days and alter tonights destination "Campsite". My original plan was to knock out 435 miles in day, by taking a 120 mile jaunt down the A20 past Limoges all the way to Sid'.
We pass countless fields of shy sunflowers, as they are turning their laden heads away from the sun rays. It is a very scenic and relaxing journey. Our bikes behaving perfectly (ahem) they "haven't missed a beat"
.
More later...
We get a rude awakening at 04:30am (UK) from my overly loud and flashing phone alarm, following by an annoying alarm from the boats system.
Obluted, we got dressed and with our prised possessions, headed for breakfast. We meet Colin up here. A chinwag accompanied by a coffee and a couple of pastries later, we were soon on our way down to the cad decks.
Here we bump into the owner of the easier mentioned 1150 GSA. Apparently he's a hot air balloon pilot, who was son his way to France to renew his licence before heading back.
He as wished us a pleasant journey and was on his way in no time at all.
Meanwhile we had a new faffer on our trip, with his newly acquired VFR 800 and its side loading clamshells*
I kid you not, we were the last to leave the boat whilst said gaffer has repacked his toys
Eventually, we were on the move, having wasted enough time already, I though sod it, and stopped to take photo of this sunrise*.
*The delay of of 11 minutes (that is how long it took to clear the boat of all vehicles, but the trucks and trailers bellow us) meant we are now sat in an amongst the wobbly boxes, people carriers, and SUVs packed full to the rafters with young families of seven and all of their kit, but a kitchen sink.
The pedantic French at the tea hut has asked me to remove my flip-front lid FFS. I was getting grumpy by now, having been sat beside a G reg Mercedes van spewing out diesel fumes out of its exhaust for a duration of at least half an hour, whilst pretentious hipster, of a top knotted Tw*t behind the wheel of it was (ahem) "saving the planet" by living off grid.
We break fee of the port gates, and instantly get stuck behind a Volvo on UK plates, who's driver was hesitating whether the green light was for them or for the others, resulting in a piss boiling moment, and me undertaking the numpty.
It is now somewhere nearing 08:00 and we are out of Ouistreham heading towards Caen, then onto N814 and straight as an arrow N158, which eventually does become A88 just past Falaise. We stay on A88 for a mere few kilometres and peeling off at Junction 11.1 as the next junction just 5 km up the road, would become the dreaded piage. We headed towards Le Mans on D958. It is a fresh August morning with temperature fluctuating between 17º-19ºc, whilst I am wearing nothing more than a moisture wicking t-shirt and a fully vented mesh Rukka jacket and trousers. I make a decision to pull into a lay-by and put on my Scott Ergo WP jacket. Skid followed suit, and wore his too. We set off after as it is by now fast approaching 09:00 and I feel a coffee is in order, as it been at least 2.5 hours since I've had a coffee onboard the boat.
MRA doing a good job guiding us on a preplanned route and we were about to peel off onto a D438, when I see this sign, "Sées, a small town of character" I instantly feel a need to poke my nose into it and we are not disappointed, with a display of a grand Cathedral Notre-Dame de Sées
as we roll into to the main square.
We park up neatly on the pavement opposite the cathedral and find ourselves inside a lovely little family run bakery...
...where boys have picked a baguette sandwich each, a brownie and three coffees...
...whilst I just had a dozen of my favourite.
Chouquettes.
A quick mooch in the square, as I had noticed a WWII Tank parked up.
We are back on the road, having had a quick chat and a rethink of a route being taken down south, as Skid wanted to investigate a campsite that he has been offered to come and stay at, by a fellow who has purchased his partners vehicle from Blighty. Feeling like I need to be part of the gang, I make a decision to go along with it opting to split the route into two days and alter tonights destination "Campsite". My original plan was to knock out 435 miles in day, by taking a 120 mile jaunt down the A20 past Limoges all the way to Sid'.
We pass countless fields of shy sunflowers, as they are turning their laden heads away from the sun rays. It is a very scenic and relaxing journey. Our bikes behaving perfectly (ahem) they "haven't missed a beat"
.More later...
Just think you need a cheeseburger! 
... continued
We carry on, carving up fine D roads before reaching a Supermarket, having been warned, that everything will be getting closed at 13:00 due to a bank holiday. It is same supermarket where we pulled into some 6 weeks earlier to refuel, only to find a long queue and moving on further towards Rennes. Only on this occasion, we are shopping for some lunch bits.
Groceries packed away, into he toolbox of my bike, we make a move.
We soon roll into a town of Montoire-sur-le-Loir, it is a busy place, with funfair in the main square as it is a bank holiday in France and people enjoying the fun times on a day off. We ride onto a bridge, and picturesque scenery opens before our eyes and it is all very lovely lovely, so I pulled up on the bridge and take a few photos.
I soon get a phonically from Skid, asking me to find a fuel station. So I do exactly that on route to Amboise. We refuel, and skid mentions that there is a nice little park with tables and benches on the other side of the road. So we investigate further, and indeed there are concrete benches and tables in the shade. We pull the bikes up in the shade.
Scoops is out on the lawn like a light bulb, having barely slept all night. Skid and I leave him be for best part of 25 minutes to watch the back of his eyelids. Skid is faffin' whilst I set about brewing coffee and prepping sandwiches.
Lunch does go down well and everyone is very pleased. Skid and Scoops have wondered off for a kip and a chat with their kids/partners, whilst I have set about splitting todays route only iPad in two and altering tonights destination to a campsite in the depths and wilds of Roussines.
We once again on the move, riding along some stunning roads and scenery. My eye catches this lovely looking turret, so I pull over to take picture while holding my phone over a 6' wall.
Pics on the phone, we ride on in the direction of Tournon-Saint-Pierre along D14 then cross over onto a D750. From here we are riding along a stunning D950 section of road, to Le Blanc, whilst following the river Creuse to our right.
Just before we enter Le Blanc, we are greeted by an old railway viaduct spanning some distance at great height over the town and the river between the two sides of the valley. It is an impressive structure. It's current use is a cycle and pedestrian path, whilst the old railways station, is now being occupied by a Judo Club Blancois.
The view from the Viaduct
We reach Glynn' campsite by just after 18:00, and get greeted by a cold beer. The place is filled with all manner of stuff. Some would say it is a scrap heap. But it is a treasure trove of a place for its owner. Glyyin is keen to show us around, as he takes us to see his model railway trains and other stuff. Scoops is keen on trains, as are his boys. He lights up at the sight of 3.5" and 5" gauge train sets. Glynn is telling us how he is keen to move on his precious 3.5" cause locos, as he wants to concentrate on a 5" stock. This sparks Scoop' interest and over dinner, the pair have agreed a deal on a single loco. This Loco is a fully functioning steam driven (yep water and coal with fully working fire box) unit weighing in at over a 100kg and is over 1.2m long. Glynn is going to take it up to Manchester, to have it inspected and even offered to have it certified for boiler safety. Proper bit of kit.
Glynn has cooked some BBQ for the boys and his family, whilst I've enjoyed some home-made potato salad and other bit and bobs on offer. We chat about all manner of stuff. Glynn is salt of the earth type of a bloke. He's not an educated man, but is a grafter, having built his home from the remains of a cow barn. We learn that he is a car sprayer by trade. The night is getting old now...
We get put up for the night in two caravans...
More later...
We carry on, carving up fine D roads before reaching a Supermarket, having been warned, that everything will be getting closed at 13:00 due to a bank holiday. It is same supermarket where we pulled into some 6 weeks earlier to refuel, only to find a long queue and moving on further towards Rennes. Only on this occasion, we are shopping for some lunch bits.
Groceries packed away, into he toolbox of my bike, we make a move.
We soon roll into a town of Montoire-sur-le-Loir, it is a busy place, with funfair in the main square as it is a bank holiday in France and people enjoying the fun times on a day off. We ride onto a bridge, and picturesque scenery opens before our eyes and it is all very lovely lovely, so I pulled up on the bridge and take a few photos.
I soon get a phonically from Skid, asking me to find a fuel station. So I do exactly that on route to Amboise. We refuel, and skid mentions that there is a nice little park with tables and benches on the other side of the road. So we investigate further, and indeed there are concrete benches and tables in the shade. We pull the bikes up in the shade.
Scoops is out on the lawn like a light bulb, having barely slept all night. Skid and I leave him be for best part of 25 minutes to watch the back of his eyelids. Skid is faffin' whilst I set about brewing coffee and prepping sandwiches.
Lunch does go down well and everyone is very pleased. Skid and Scoops have wondered off for a kip and a chat with their kids/partners, whilst I have set about splitting todays route only iPad in two and altering tonights destination to a campsite in the depths and wilds of Roussines.
We once again on the move, riding along some stunning roads and scenery. My eye catches this lovely looking turret, so I pull over to take picture while holding my phone over a 6' wall.
Pics on the phone, we ride on in the direction of Tournon-Saint-Pierre along D14 then cross over onto a D750. From here we are riding along a stunning D950 section of road, to Le Blanc, whilst following the river Creuse to our right.
Just before we enter Le Blanc, we are greeted by an old railway viaduct spanning some distance at great height over the town and the river between the two sides of the valley. It is an impressive structure. It's current use is a cycle and pedestrian path, whilst the old railways station, is now being occupied by a Judo Club Blancois.
The view from the Viaduct
We reach Glynn' campsite by just after 18:00, and get greeted by a cold beer. The place is filled with all manner of stuff. Some would say it is a scrap heap. But it is a treasure trove of a place for its owner. Glyyin is keen to show us around, as he takes us to see his model railway trains and other stuff. Scoops is keen on trains, as are his boys. He lights up at the sight of 3.5" and 5" gauge train sets. Glynn is telling us how he is keen to move on his precious 3.5" cause locos, as he wants to concentrate on a 5" stock. This sparks Scoop' interest and over dinner, the pair have agreed a deal on a single loco. This Loco is a fully functioning steam driven (yep water and coal with fully working fire box) unit weighing in at over a 100kg and is over 1.2m long. Glynn is going to take it up to Manchester, to have it inspected and even offered to have it certified for boiler safety. Proper bit of kit.
Glynn has cooked some BBQ for the boys and his family, whilst I've enjoyed some home-made potato salad and other bit and bobs on offer. We chat about all manner of stuff. Glynn is salt of the earth type of a bloke. He's not an educated man, but is a grafter, having built his home from the remains of a cow barn. We learn that he is a car sprayer by trade. The night is getting old now...
We get put up for the night in two caravans...
More later...
Attachments
Continued...
Friday morning
I make a mistake thinking that it'll be a warm night and chose to sleep inside a cotton sleeping bag liner only. By 03:00 I was rattling my fillings out. It was that cold. I got up for impromptu wee, then got back in and put my puffer jacket on in an attempt to warm up. I get marginally warmer, but can't sleep, so fully wide awake by 05:00ish.
...and our neighbour.
A hot shower does a trick of warming me up. We pack our bikes and Glynn prepares us a breakfast as agreed for 09:00. We scoff or breakfast and are on the road by gone 10:30. But not without a hiccup. I've plonked my Tank Bag on the bike, and plugged in the fly lead into it. This charges my phone and power bank on the go.Unbeknown to me, whilst I was having my breakfast (I did not expected to take a 1.5 hours to be honest), the battery on my bike had drained just enough to be still able to start the bike. So I rode off to turn around, only to notice a bunch of grown bloke playing with RC dumper trucks and excavators. So naturally I have pulled up beside them and killed the engine whilst having a quick chat and snap a video plus a photo or two.
I pack my phone away and go to start my bike, Feck. the battery is to low to crank it over and the bikes TFT is having a hissy fit. One of the blokes then says,I've a noco battery booster. Thank god for that! no sooner than 5 minutes later I am back on the road and join in with he others and we ride on.
I love a nice field of sunflowers...
More later...
=====
Edited, to embed the pictures.
Richard
Friday morning
I make a mistake thinking that it'll be a warm night and chose to sleep inside a cotton sleeping bag liner only. By 03:00 I was rattling my fillings out. It was that cold. I got up for impromptu wee, then got back in and put my puffer jacket on in an attempt to warm up. I get marginally warmer, but can't sleep, so fully wide awake by 05:00ish.
...and our neighbour.
A hot shower does a trick of warming me up. We pack our bikes and Glynn prepares us a breakfast as agreed for 09:00. We scoff or breakfast and are on the road by gone 10:30. But not without a hiccup. I've plonked my Tank Bag on the bike, and plugged in the fly lead into it. This charges my phone and power bank on the go.Unbeknown to me, whilst I was having my breakfast (I did not expected to take a 1.5 hours to be honest), the battery on my bike had drained just enough to be still able to start the bike. So I rode off to turn around, only to notice a bunch of grown bloke playing with RC dumper trucks and excavators. So naturally I have pulled up beside them and killed the engine whilst having a quick chat and snap a video plus a photo or two.
I pack my phone away and go to start my bike, Feck. the battery is to low to crank it over and the bikes TFT is having a hissy fit. One of the blokes then says,I've a noco battery booster. Thank god for that! no sooner than 5 minutes later I am back on the road and join in with he others and we ride on.
I love a nice field of sunflowers...
More later...
=====
Edited, to embed the pictures.
Richard
Last edited by a moderator:
Brilliant Ev.
Nice report, I have such a soft spot for France in the summer. Keep it coming!
It does a good job of navigating me, not least as I can see the road ahead and immediate surroundings over the top of it! Who needs a 9” (or is it an 11”?) TV on the bike?What, with that tiny nav screen
Great write up Ev which I’m thoroughly enjoying reading.
Carry on
Carry on
Worth waiting for... 
How long after getting up, to get off a ferry and out of terminal gates?
Sorry I’ve must’ve missed that detailHow long after getting up, to get off a ferry and out of terminal gates?
That cathedral at Sees is magnificent. When we cycle in that area, it's always great to spot its very distinctive twin spires on the horizon as that usually marks the next coffee and croissant stop.
Keep it coming!
Keep it coming!
Apologies for the delay in reporting, life' getting in the way. Not all of us are retirees or blatant insomniacs.
Continued...
Friday Morning
...pictures of a sunflower fields taken, we get the wheels rolling. It is a midmorning by now, so no need for any layers to be worn, just my cheapo isocool mountain warehouse t-shirt and a mesh jacket over the top. the temperature is now around 23ºc - 24ºc. We hit the narrow single car width lanes, before emerging on a great little road (D3) full of twist and turns before we merge onto the D675, heading south for the town on Nontron, where we refuel at Intermarche. Luckly, this particular PFS has had a person occupying a seat inside the tea hut, so we have avoided the dreaded €120+ preauthorisation on our credit cards.
Refuelled and range anxiety (for some) out the way, we headed out of town, before going under (what was, now a pedestrian walkway) yet another lovely looking railway viaduct on the south side of Nontron, but the stone section over the main road was removed and replaced by a steel section with step up from either side. this obviously now allowed HGV and otherwise oversized vehicles to pass under.
Image curtesy of Google Streetview.
little while later, we pullover in the shade at an Aire to have a coffee, and to stretch our legs. No to much because we been riding for ages, but to actually, from perspective to synchronise the day a little. We had 200km to do that day to get to Sid' and it was nice to simply bimble along the way to get there, seeing as we had no set time to arrive by. So coffee stop in the shade it was then.
A portly elderly fellow in his motorhome, was parked up just a short distance away, he swung his door open, which has released a joyful tunes of what could've been mistaken for a romantic Parisian cafe tunes, of blues and jazz. How very appropriate I said to the lats as I was brewing our coffee whilst chomping on some fine sweet Italian grapes, that we had purchased the day earlier.
There were tables to sit at, but these were in broad sunlight and it was 27ºc by this time...
... so we opted to park bot bikes and ourselves in the shade... on a grassy bank...
Cheers Skid...
and Scoopie...
we sat or in some instances lye here here for some 30-40 minutes, talking and laughing... what not to like, no pressure from the cafe staff to move on as we potentially are occupying the seats that other paying clients could be using. A wash-up of all the paraphernalia in the municipal bathroom (why does UK not have such facilities?) which was cleaner and smelled more fresh than a UK motorway services arrangement. I take an opportunity to soak my t-shirt and wear it as such. we are soon under way, now headed on D675 and D939 for Perigueux, through a lovely part of French countryside.
Said countryside is just stunning, with amazing roads and even finer surfaces. My 1290 making and effortless progress, despite my overall luggage setup weighing over 60kg.
My recent complete drivetrain overhaul, made me love my bike again, despite considering a change for the past 12-15 months fr a newer model. The gearshifts are buttery smooth, and clatter produced by a worn-out chain, is a distant memory. The bike does everything I as of it, very well, so it is a keeper for the foreseeable.
An hour later, we are arriving into Perigueux and my thinking is, lets pull into hat E.Leclerc and pickup some provisions for a picnic lunch. Not so fast, I am thinking, as said E.Leclerc is only a drive-thru shopping collection point. So we end up having lunch at a rather excellent sandwicherie next door upon request from the boys.
I am amazed to be presented with three choices of a veggie sandwich!!!!
So opt for a baguette drizzled with olive oil & filled with caramelised carrots, rocket, lettuce leaves, sliced cucumber & goats cheese, three of my fave choquettes and a can of orangina...
... whilst boys gone for a chicken salad and a baguette of some description plus a couple of raspberry tarts.
Some further 30-40 minutes later, we swing our legs one our awesome steeds as I notice a rather alarming
information on my dash (tablet)
I have seen it displaying 57ºc before I pulled into the shaded area a mere 30 second later. It wasn't that hot, as the bikes were left in the direct sunlight, by the time we had wheels are rolling again, temperature was fluctuating between 29ºc - 31ºc
We meander our way out of the city, the concentration was intense, so I barely noticed where I was, but happens to have noticed a rather unusual looking cathedral and its roof structure, whilst sat at the set of traffic lights...
Image curtesy of Google Streetview.
As we exit the boundaries of the city, we join D710 heading south-east towards Le Bugue before crossing the bridge over the river La Dordogne at Siorac-en-Périgord. As we are riding over an ancient stone bridge, I notice a whole load of people kayaking, swimming and generally having good time cooling off in the river. As we crossed the bridge, I knew we had to stop a the Brasseurs Du Pont bar, knowing that they are likely to serve some ice cream for our very own connoisseur Monsieur @Stevie4scoops.
We pull up by the river & @Skid06 does the deed, ordering some Häagen-Dazs miniature ice cream tubs and some cold water. That is all that was on offer. None the less, we are set about consuming said scoops in the shade. As we indulge in our ice creams, the now local fellow in his mid 60's (expat from Bristol) is having an exchange of seemingly inappropriate flirtatious chit chat with a young French lady (in her 20's) inside the trailer, serving beers, snacks and obviously ice cream, we were having. He's not even attempting to be discrete as he's chatting in English.
More later...
Continued...
Friday Morning
...pictures of a sunflower fields taken, we get the wheels rolling. It is a midmorning by now, so no need for any layers to be worn, just my cheapo isocool mountain warehouse t-shirt and a mesh jacket over the top. the temperature is now around 23ºc - 24ºc. We hit the narrow single car width lanes, before emerging on a great little road (D3) full of twist and turns before we merge onto the D675, heading south for the town on Nontron, where we refuel at Intermarche. Luckly, this particular PFS has had a person occupying a seat inside the tea hut, so we have avoided the dreaded €120+ preauthorisation on our credit cards.
Refuelled and range anxiety (for some) out the way, we headed out of town, before going under (what was, now a pedestrian walkway) yet another lovely looking railway viaduct on the south side of Nontron, but the stone section over the main road was removed and replaced by a steel section with step up from either side. this obviously now allowed HGV and otherwise oversized vehicles to pass under.
Image curtesy of Google Streetview.
little while later, we pullover in the shade at an Aire to have a coffee, and to stretch our legs. No to much because we been riding for ages, but to actually, from perspective to synchronise the day a little. We had 200km to do that day to get to Sid' and it was nice to simply bimble along the way to get there, seeing as we had no set time to arrive by. So coffee stop in the shade it was then.
A portly elderly fellow in his motorhome, was parked up just a short distance away, he swung his door open, which has released a joyful tunes of what could've been mistaken for a romantic Parisian cafe tunes, of blues and jazz. How very appropriate I said to the lats as I was brewing our coffee whilst chomping on some fine sweet Italian grapes, that we had purchased the day earlier.
There were tables to sit at, but these were in broad sunlight and it was 27ºc by this time...
... so we opted to park bot bikes and ourselves in the shade... on a grassy bank...
Cheers Skid...
and Scoopie...
we sat or in some instances lye here here for some 30-40 minutes, talking and laughing... what not to like, no pressure from the cafe staff to move on as we potentially are occupying the seats that other paying clients could be using. A wash-up of all the paraphernalia in the municipal bathroom (why does UK not have such facilities?) which was cleaner and smelled more fresh than a UK motorway services arrangement. I take an opportunity to soak my t-shirt and wear it as such. we are soon under way, now headed on D675 and D939 for Perigueux, through a lovely part of French countryside.
Said countryside is just stunning, with amazing roads and even finer surfaces. My 1290 making and effortless progress, despite my overall luggage setup weighing over 60kg.
My recent complete drivetrain overhaul, made me love my bike again, despite considering a change for the past 12-15 months fr a newer model. The gearshifts are buttery smooth, and clatter produced by a worn-out chain, is a distant memory. The bike does everything I as of it, very well, so it is a keeper for the foreseeable.
An hour later, we are arriving into Perigueux and my thinking is, lets pull into hat E.Leclerc and pickup some provisions for a picnic lunch. Not so fast, I am thinking, as said E.Leclerc is only a drive-thru shopping collection point. So we end up having lunch at a rather excellent sandwicherie next door upon request from the boys.
I am amazed to be presented with three choices of a veggie sandwich!!!!
So opt for a baguette drizzled with olive oil & filled with caramelised carrots, rocket, lettuce leaves, sliced cucumber & goats cheese, three of my fave choquettes and a can of orangina...... whilst boys gone for a chicken salad and a baguette of some description plus a couple of raspberry tarts.
Some further 30-40 minutes later, we swing our legs one our awesome steeds as I notice a rather alarming
information on my dash (tablet)I have seen it displaying 57ºc before I pulled into the shaded area a mere 30 second later. It wasn't that hot, as the bikes were left in the direct sunlight, by the time we had wheels are rolling again, temperature was fluctuating between 29ºc - 31ºc
We meander our way out of the city, the concentration was intense, so I barely noticed where I was, but happens to have noticed a rather unusual looking cathedral and its roof structure, whilst sat at the set of traffic lights...
Image curtesy of Google Streetview.
As we exit the boundaries of the city, we join D710 heading south-east towards Le Bugue before crossing the bridge over the river La Dordogne at Siorac-en-Périgord. As we are riding over an ancient stone bridge, I notice a whole load of people kayaking, swimming and generally having good time cooling off in the river. As we crossed the bridge, I knew we had to stop a the Brasseurs Du Pont bar, knowing that they are likely to serve some ice cream for our very own connoisseur Monsieur @Stevie4scoops.
We pull up by the river & @Skid06 does the deed, ordering some Häagen-Dazs miniature ice cream tubs and some cold water. That is all that was on offer. None the less, we are set about consuming said scoops in the shade. As we indulge in our ice creams, the now local fellow in his mid 60's (expat from Bristol) is having an exchange of seemingly inappropriate flirtatious chit chat with a young French lady (in her 20's) inside the trailer, serving beers, snacks and obviously ice cream, we were having. He's not even attempting to be discrete as he's chatting in English.
More later...
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