Villefranche to Castres

A bit of a rude start to the day with an immediate 855 ft climb - ooof

The view at the top was pretty good but the roads today were generally busier.

My planned boulangerie stop was beautiful but mostly closed so onwards and upwards.

I found a lovely cafe (and an open boulangerie) at Cordes, another impressive fortified medieval town.

The route then went up and down (lots!) through vineyards - the Gaillac wine region.

Bob's photo shoot today is by the river Tarn - I had already eaten the patisserie du jour!

The undulating went on and on and it was quite a relief to see the award winning village of Lautrec  - it meant I was about to descend!

This evening's campsite is on the edge of  Castres, known for its rugby team apparently.

Quelle surprise, we are next to a river...

Also unsurprisingly, the tree trunks are really aching after 75.8 miles and 4580 feet of climbing.

Here is their reward...

Arpajon to Villefranche

The tree trunks woke up rather stiff and sore and the start of the ride uphill through the town stopping and starting at traffic lights didn't help!

The knackered body eventually settled into the climbing and yet again the scenery was deserted and beautiful.

There is a hare running down the road in the middle of his photo...

We are now in Lot which given the number of cows, has to be famous for dairy produce?

Today Bob is posing with his pain au chocolat by a beautiful church in Boisset.

After the carb load came yet another climb, with the lovely bonus at the summit of an old French man stopping his car to shake my hand and say well done!

The descent was unfortunately very bumpy and my bottle cage was shaken loose. Fortunately I bumped into Andy the guide who had the correct size Allen key and the horrible rattling was stopped.

More climbing towards the end of the ride and my legs were kaput. A total of 3560 feet over 62.8 miles.

I thought the garmin was joking when it sent me through the medieval centre of Villefranche, but it was pretty spectacular (and uncomfortable on the cobbles!)

Another very pretty campsite and a supermarche feast this evening :)

Neuvic to Arpajon-sur-Cere

Ooof that was a tough day - 67.8 miles and a tree trunk knackering 5276 feet of climbing.

It started with a stunning descent down to the river Dore

Obviously once I crossed the river, the climbing started and I decided a coffee was going to be needed with the cake today.

Bob found a friend at the Boulangerie today, the Tour de France is passing through this region next week.

The climb wound up a beautiful river valley 

Then the climbing really started, up to the Puy Mary, a 2nd category climb and an absolute #^*%

There were numerous hanging over handlebar moments during one of which a very helpful (not) French hiker told me the record for the ascent.

I eventually made it but it wasn't fast or pretty.

The professionals will climb this next Wednesday as part of a 216 km stage with 4 other cols and no doubt considerably more quickly - makes me feel completely inadequate!

Our campsite this evening is at the start of Stage 7 of the TdF so they have the decorations ready!

Tree trunk stretching, cold beers and lots of yummy food now needed!

Aubusson to Neuvic

A rather fabulous breakfast spot at the start of an even more fabulous day on the bike.

Today's ride was 61.1 beautiful miles and 3904 feet of happy climbing through Limousin. I climbed for nearly an hour at the start of the day which was a bit knackering, but hardly saw a car.

Even the cows were rather spectacular

The road undulated through forest and a military zone with some rather alarming signs

Bob's tarte du jour was an apple turnover which rapidly vanished into tree trunk replenishment

This was an impressive Benedictine abbey at the appropriately named Saint-Angel

Definitely some bad singing today - the hills are alive...

Another potential mozziefest campsite..

Rather proud of this evening's culinary efforts

Rest day in Aubusson

No need for the moving on morning routine today so a leisurely breakfast in the sunshine with yummy fresh croissants.

Rusty's bike has had a very boring trip so far attached to the back of the van and it was time for some exercise. We did a huge 3.7 mile ride around Aubusson!

It was so exhausting, we had to stop for a beer/coffee

Our timing was great as we watched the arrival of 'Creusekistan', a car rally to promote tourism in Creuse apparently. 

There were some fabulous cars and even more impressive eccentric participants.

This very elegant lady had spotty high heels to match her scarf and immaculate white gloves

Not entirely sure what this man's costume was about..

My favourite car..

Bob and his semi-redundant mate are today modelling les pyramides passion fraise, completely unjustifiable re calorie expenditure but delicious.

And now for an afternoon of doing not a lot... zzzzz

This campsite is so beautiful