Cycling in southern France

Hi Everyone, Sama here, back on line after a busy couple of weeks. I had a wonderful week in Cardiff staying with my grandparents ( who are both in their 90s and doing very well) and visiting lots of relatives. I also managed to do some lovely cycles around Cardiff and into the countryside, which is never too far away. As usual I got lost many times, but the Welsh people were extremely helpful in giving very detailed directions to get me back to my Nan’s. Then, with my parents we caught a ferry to Oostende and the next day took trip to Thiepval in France, this whole area of rural France seems to be full of memorials for so many wartime battles. It was a very moving experience and I was glad to have shared it with Mum and Dad.

We have just about completed 9 days of cycling through the Vezere, Dordogne and Lot valleys. The French countryside is simply enchanting, filled with crumbling chateaus atop sheer sided cliffs, meandering rivers, forested valleys and medieval towns. Our trip has taken us mostly on quiet country roads where you can still hear the sound of cowbells and people call out a lively “Bonjour!” as we cycle past.

We’ve been very fortunate with the bikes, with no punctures as yet and only a couple of cycling incidents. The first was a minor sight seeing accident, in which I was paying too much attention to the sights and ran off the road, into a ditch, went over the handlebars and landed on a blackberry bush, lots of scratches but it was more embarrassing than anything. We also experienced a slight case of hypothermia. After leaving Sarlat la Caneda very early one extremely chilly morning, we had the unusual experience of encountering a long, winding descent (most of our days seem to start with a steep climb) into a beautiful forested valley. By the time we reached the bottom over an hour later the mist was rolling off the river and we were both freezing. It took 2 cups of tea and half an hour of standing in the sun before I stopped shivering enough to get back on the bike.

My French is improving slowly, I now know when I read a sign pointing to <toilettes, eau potable>  not to go looking for a portaloo.  [translation: toilets, drinking water - Sean]

Au revoir.

Sama