Day 13 Entraygues to Banassac
Setting off in the correct direction for once we idled for a while as Tom discussed sprockets with a Frenchman.
We climbed steadily following the Lot through the Gorge. Helen ever the hooligan scaled the wall of the EDF hydro barrage and we scarpered quick to avoid arrest.
Then up and over to Estaing a beautiful medieval town full of pilgrims en route to Compostella. We chatted to one young man who spun us a line and Tom and I ended up subbing him on his way.
The Lot had appeared to be nearing its source when it opened out into a wide open valley but not for long.
Crossing the river to avoid the easy route we ground our way uphill over 8km. We did see some lovely smelling surprisingly of goats cheese. Time ( the simpleton) wondered if they smeared the goats in goats cheese to make them smell.
Then DOWN. Into one of the most beautiful villages in France for a meagre sandwich and a grumpy cafe owner.
Much texting was going on to try to meet up with our friend Suzanne and her Mum en route from Edinburgh to the South of France. And we succeeded.
There followed another unnecessary hill with a series "plaques des gravillons" on the way down to spoil the swoops.
Everyone was on the limit by the time we got to a Logis at Banassac by a motorway.
After a bit of faffing we found what we needed. A small unprepossessing restaurant with luvly vin de pays d'oc and some lovely grub. Much fearful trepidatious worrying about the BIG day tomorrow over the highest col of the trip.
And so to bed (after a wee dram).
Km cycled 81 M climbed 1586 mechanicals/injuries 0
No comments:
Post a Comment