Category Archives: On the road

Day 30 – Boulogne to Plaisance du touch

81km of 2114 so far…

It’s been a month now that I am in France and many people told me I should try cassoulet when I get to the south. I had it once in London but of course it would not be the same.

I started making my way to Toulouse early in the morning. I chose to make a small diversion so to join a prettier road. Unfortunately for my legs it had loads of up and downs, but that was the trade off for the scenery I was cycling within.

Sunflowers
Sunflowers
Endless fields
Endless fields
Fields and hills
Fields and hills
My new best friends
My new best friends

After about 50km, I stopped at Rieumes for some lunch and rest. After I had a pizza I noticed a cafe with wifi and since I was only 30km from Toulouse I thought I should use the opportunity. The people inside seemed very friendly and kept laughing with my french accent. As I was getting my bike to depart, some of the clients started asking me questions so I told them my story about cycling back home. Then I asked them for a campsite in Toulouse and that’s when the surprise of the day appeared. One of the ladies offered me to go to her place in Plaisance du touch, which is only 10km from Toulouse and pitch my tent in her garder. I could turn down such an offer, so we arrange to meet in the supermarket of the town. I later found out that her son used to do a lot of cycle touring so she knew what I was into. The accommodation, apart from a shower, wifi and a thicker matrice for my tent, also included a 3 course meal that we had along with her friends and a hefty breakfast with home made marmalade. I was glad I had a spare bottle of Bordeaux red wine with me to thank her for treating me like son.

Jacquie, Renee, Raymonde and Dany
Jacquie, Renee, Raymonde and Dany
The glorious casoullet
The glorious homemade casoullet
The final punch with profiteroles
The final punch with profiteroles

Day 29 – Bagneres de Bigorre to Boulogne sur Gesse

68km of 2034km so far…

After yesterday’s col, the wet and the cold night, I woke up and started my day late. On top of that I went to the town center to buy and do a few things, so I was on the road at mid day. I wasn’t feeling fully recovered, so along the day I was cycling rather slowly.
I was heading to Toulouse, but it was too far to get there on the day, especially with such a late start. On top of that, I thought I was done with the hills, but still I ended up going up and down a couple of hundreds meters several times.

A nice church on the way, with Pyrenees at the background
A nice church on the way, with Pyrenees at the background

My first stop for a quick lunch was at the castle of Mauvezin, which is located on the top of the village’s hill, overlooking a vast area of land and the Pyrenees at the far south. The weather was once again warm, which I really appreciated after the last three cold days on the mountains, so I spend a good half an hour by the castle to enjoy the sun and have a snack.

The castle of ... and where I had my lunch
The castle of Mauvezin …which is still under construction

Somebody took my banana!
Somebody took my banana!

Moving on, I did a short diversion to join one of the smaller roads which was indicated with a green outline on the map. That was the part of the day’s ride I enjoyed the most. About 20 kilometers of downhill, small and quite roads, which I rode effortlessly, within beautiful forests and small surrounding hills.

A last view of the Pyrenees
A last view of the Pyrenees
One of the small roads within the forest
One of the small roads within the forest
sunflowers
sunflowers
I've been seen loads of similar statues on the way
I’ve been seeing loads of similar statues on the way

Soon enough I got to Boulogne sur Gesse, which is a small town with a campsite and all the commodities I needed to spend the night and so I did. I cooked some food and had a beer by the tent to celebrate.

2000km and the celebrational chocolate
2000km and the celebrational chocolate