4th August Somewhere up a hill to Dave and Vickys near Lauzerte 52km (some in pitch darkness :/)

Longer cycle than anticipated to Montague de quercy but past some absolutely stunning sunflower fields and the landscape starting to remind us of Italy. Much more undulating with little villages on top of mountains, pink colour to stone and contrasting beautifully with the brown ploughed fields, the green trees and the gorgeous yellow of the sunflowers. Lunch in shade of church accompanied by aggrieved barking of local dogs.

Arrived at campsite at Montague, really nice with a stunning emerald lake in the middle of it. Quick dip and sort through then off for 5km to dave and vickys YAY!!!!! Gorgeous gite with amazing pool, and we quickly re-established where we left off in England. Not sure what they thought of the 5 litre  cask of wine, but dave did partake later and found little difference to the bottles they had, think we have planted a seed there. Lovely time, BBQ later and all too soon time to go before the sun set too much. DOH!!!!! too late so slightly nervous cycle back, I had lights Dave wore high viz jacket so got there safely, lovely day :)

a nice cup of tea at last!!!

Feeding us up :)

3rd August  Mas D'Agenis to a hill just past Agen 60km

Refreshed this morning and after omelet sandwich and banana sandwich, before the ants ate the bananas we set off with full tummys down the canal. Feeling good, budget back on track and then we stopped for a coffee at Damaz, another pretty mediaeval village with the MOST EXPENSIVE COFFEE IN THE WHOLE OF FRANCE!!!!!! 7 euros and he wrong changed me so I at least had some satisfaction as I went back to check the price. This really bugged Dave and he is determined to warn the world about this rip off (see photos).

Anyway, slightly peeved, we set off back on the canal to Agen. Nice small city and found a gallery, who though he couldn't take any paintings gave us some good pointers for when we are in provence. He was of that locality, and sees the art markets there as the way to go.With time being more relaxed in a couple of weeks ad staying in the Vaucluse area this should bode well :) Also thinking about wine picking, just not sure when it happens, but will suss these things along the way.

Directed to a campsite by the office de tourisme, near pont de cassis, which is on way to Vicky and dave's so seemed like a good idea.. The Happy Forest, should have sounded alarm bells really. 5km up A road then sharp right up a long hill to a Lets go Ape kind of place with the most dejected looking camping area ever, with spectacular views it has to said, but 18 euros a total rip off really. Not much choice by this point.

Settled down, solitary campers, to cook. Cooker won't work!!! After examining in detail we are hoping just no gas, though you can hear it in there :/ Then Dave French became Dave Grylls man of the mountains. In the barbecue area man made fire, woman cooked on fire!!!! So easy as more than one pan could go on at a time. YAY.  Good end to day :) Just 18 miles to V and D's tomorrow with 20 bottles of beer and a 5 litre cask of red wine (classy or what) on the back of our bikes ha ha!

man makes fire

woman cooks tea

most expensive coffee house in france

Resume of 1st month

Highlights:-
1  The people, so friendly and forgiving of my French, except for the odd couple of patronising campsite     owners (men with keys hanging off their jeans so easy to spot). Special thoughts to family who gave us                   shelter and women who stopped their cars as i tippled off such a long time ago

2 The drivers - stop to let you cross the road, give really wide birth to you and generally the cyclist is not seen as second class citizen

3 Ok now the wine (Dave wanted that top) so cheap though god only knows what its doing to our insides

4 Campsites by and large (odd anty and sand fly ones aside) great set up, favourite one the cheapest, with the unfeasibly friendly chap and his off sider the maintenance lady, and the one where we bought 4 beers and got one free!!!

5  La Rochelle was worried it would be a let down after Dave was so excited about following in Ronnie's footsteps, but really nice place.

6 the voires verts. how mmany other countries could you pretty much cycle 1200km thus farmainly on cycle tracks. very impressive

Have to stop there as could just go on forever really lovely country.

Lowlights:-

1 BUDGET!!!!! wish we could relax and enjoy it all a bit more but difficult on the budget. Learnt that can't just go out and have 3 pints like in the White Cross. This next month will be different from that perspective and feel that will make the difference. Cheaper inland too so that will help.

2 have to put this, nearly getting arrested but feel it was quite funny, you can take the girl out of Morecambe........

What does August hold. This promises to be sooooo exciting, Farrens on Sunday and then the following weekend heading to Montpellier to meet Natalie and Harry to celebrate the following Saturday Dave's 50th in St Marie de la Mer and then if that isn't enough off to provence to live like locals in a proper house and everything for a week. Promises to be a great month, keep following!!!!!!

2nd August (giving up on day count) La reole to Mas D'Agenis 29km

Dave up early doing a painting of the very picturesque town from the river. Once finished got his paintings together and headed off to the little gallery (pretty much the first of it's type we have found) in the village. A lovely chap running it and with my limited French explained the situation, he looked at the paintings and liked them, especially the beach scenes, however when it came to whether he could purchase any, unfortunately it was a "Non". After writing down why I realised he was about to retire and couldn't buy more stock. Feedback promising and he asked us where we were heading. I said some places and he added Agen to the mix, which is on the canal, so may be a possibility(though wasn't on the itinerary)

We then headed off down the Canal geronne. Excellent voires verts, paved all the way and lovely shade. Getting hot again and basically very tired from yesterdays exploits, add to that hunger as totally ill prepared and we didn't get as far as planned. Took a detour to Mas D'Agenis and felt quite beguiled by its mediaeval charm, and the campsite for 5 euros, so decided to stop. Quick shop and we have now stooped to even lower depths as we have red wine in a plastic bottle!!!! Can be reused for water ha ha.

Day 30 (seem to have gained a day??!) Bordeaux to La Reole 80km including search for wine.

Left the lovely city of Bordeaux. Had a glass of Bordeaux in bordeaux last night with a lovely chap, Connor, from Sheffield, here to line up years accommodation as part of his degree in French. Down the Voires Verts with a couple of stops on the way for coffee and food (early food stop as evidently not as much fuel obtained from Honey type cereal than good old porridge). Ended the Voires Verts at Sauveterre de Guyenne, a really pretty ville but with no campsite. Decision made to head south towards the River Garonne along small roads. What the map doesn't indicate is the undulation involved.

Hot today too so a couple of hills that almost provoked vomiting but got here eventually. 70km under our belt. Set up camp and rustled up pasta dish from nearly empty food sack then went in search of supermarche. In vain, as they all closed at 7.30 but this added 10km to already shattered body!!! Then found a little epicerie, still open, slightly more for wine but as site only cost 10 euro felt we deserved it.

Sun just starting to set as we sit by the river, very pretty little old town, stunning views from the hill we climbed on wine search. would return to get photo but really can't face it. Few easy days ahead down the canals and rivers to ultimate destination on Sunday to meet up with vicky, dave, Ava and Myah Farren (sorry guys spelling might be out there) so looking forward to that. as the start of a new month was going to do a little resume of highlights and low lights, but too tired, will have to wait for tomorrow.....

bordeaux in bordeaux

connor from sheffield

is this how you get wine

feeling pretty bad

Day 29 Bordeaux

Lovely city this. After reasonable nights sleep but really no better than the tent, we had as much as we could manage at breakfast, including my first tasting of nutella. OMG it tastes like the top of our favourite super U biscuits, that's going to be bought from now on and put on cheapy biscuits to emulate them!!!! Dave then went painting in a lovely little square. painting a little restaurant, lovely scene then a  white van parked right in front of him!!! Luckily the job wasn't an all dayer though they had to have a coffee in said restaurant before they went. Painting eventually finished we then moved to the side of the river itself after a coffee.  He started to paint an archway into the old town. Really stunning architecture all round.

After about an hour with his growing portfolio laid out on the new black sarong, a lady in some kind of uniform with a walkie talkie approached. I knew exactly what she was saying but played dumb, whilst Dave at one point said "but I haven't actually sold anything" but obviously in English so she didn't realise he was confessing all really. Then she spotted the 50euro card and jumped on the vital piece of evidence with relish then went onto the walkie talkie! I was packing stuff away by this time and owned up to all, the next thing three gendarmerie on bikes were there (slight overkill I felt). Dave then is like "but can I keep painting" which she acknowledged was ok. The boys in blue obviously felt the paperwork wasn't worth it and they all cycled off. 10 mins later two more passed by on Segways, I am so glad they weren't part of the initial squad or I could have laughed out loud and not be sitting here now.

Oh fun is being had all round!!!! Back to Auberge with bottle of wine and pizza!!!!! which normally would not bother me but this trip has changed everything!

in distance gendarmerie retuning to base

segwayers!!!!

Day 28 Lacanau Ville to Bordeaux 50km

Voires verts all the way, Nice easy cycle, with lunch stop in the most lovely grounds to social security building i have ever seen, into beautiful city of Bordeaux. Once established that no real camping potential found through tourist info Auberge jeunnesse which is we assume the halls of residence for the uni used as accommodation for the summer. really great place 46 euro for a double, close to the town centre, spotless with brilliant security for the bikes and in general, and breakfast and use of kitchen. As we settled into Room 101 :/ plan was made and dave went out painting.

About 8pm i followed him out to the fountain in the centre of the front of the old town where a decidedly tense dave was attempting to paint with a dentally challenged man of the street and water colour artist himself, Didier, was sat by his side, drinking, smoking, advising dave on his technique and most importantly probably deterring any potential clientele. After 10 mins of me being there, perhaps my more dismissive aura, he moved on. After which Dave then turned and said "lesson learnt, you can't be nice to everyone".

Packed up and back to Auberge, where, I have to admit to this, whilst I prepared our soup initially I was offered left over pasta in a pan which i accepted gladly, obviously very gladly, as they then offered me there left overs on the plate and I took it!!!!!! Dave looked on in astonishment and it was only as I finished i realised really what i had done!!!!!!Anyway they seemed nice young women and i was starving!

not sure why am pulling this face but lovely grounds for council workers