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

La Chatre to Aubusson

That was a harder day - 59.5 miles and a very lumpy 3681 feet of climbing. The tree trunks know they have worked hard but I loved it!

The scenery is now very different with rolling hills and fast flowing rivers.

Also some beautiful mini chateaux, this one had a very noisy frog/toad party happening:

And this one was another wedding venue...

Bob's patisserie du jour involved a choux pastry that looked like a doughnut.

This blog has been decidedly lacking in animal photos so voila, des vaches..

At the end of the ride I arrived at the gorgeous campsite (on a river again of course), to find the fabulous rewards of having a hubby who is addicted to foreign supermarkets!