Set off on a cloudy overcast morning to the Canal du Midi (our path for the next few days). As it was Sunday we had pre-booked a hotel Agen so we knew we only had a short distance to travel and would then be able to enjoy a leisurely lunch before France shuts up for the rest of today. The sun came out as we cycled along the banks of the canal amongst joggers and other cyclists. Billy was wearing a t shirt with CANADA across the front so enjoyed conversation with a pretty young cyclist he met who thought she had come across a fellow Canadian as she came from Vancouver. Needless to say she soon found out our connections with Vancouver and that we were in fact Scottish. To get into Agen the canal crosses on a viaduct 30' above the River Garonne. Eventually we found a delightful restaurant where we could enjoy a leisurely sunday lunch and were able to discuss cycling with six other (elderly) British cyclists (we're not the only crazy ones!) - see photos of vehicles parked outside the restaurant! Made our way through the city to our hotel on the outskirts of Agen.
Distance: 59.8k
Please please please Shirley, do not fall off your bike whilst riding alongside the canal. I don't think Billy's swimming and lifesaving skills are quite up to scratch! Glad to hear you are getting plenty of good food and wine and meeting likeminded people - even if they are much older than yourselves. You could maybe do this trip in 10 years time only going the other way. Take care. Love Aileen
ReplyDeleteJust back from Prague - had a great time wall to wall sunshine.
ReplyDeleteKnow Duras and Agen well - should have put you in touch with Jean-Pierre and Dany. Also know the AQUEDUCT - interesting feature. Feeling envious now cos this was the bit that I wanted to travel with you. Look after yourselves and don't drink and cycle!!!
Terry and Shirley
Good work UB and AS. I am impressed with your progress. You are near where d'Artagnan was born and bred. He is Gascon and when talking to the Duke of Buckingham about pride he came to the conclusion that: "Les Gascons sont les Ecossais de la France". You may wish to point this out to some locals. If they have a copy of Les Trois Mousquetaires it is a few pages in to Chapter 21: La Comtesse de Winter.
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