Yet another cycling day! But that was after we moved on from Villeneuve to Trebes, to a France Passion - this one being an olive farm. It is listed as having 5 spaces for motorhomes. When we arrived at lunch-time, there were 2 others there, on a large patch of rough ground leading down to a fenced field with a donkey in it.
The advantage of its position beside the Canal du Midi, meant that we could get on the bikes and go to Carcassonne via the towpath. Along the way we could wave at the occupants of the lovely boats and watch the lock-keepers do their stuff at the ecluses.
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| Lock-keeper's cottage |
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| Picnic table French style - seats around 20! |
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| A sleeping dog at every lock |
We didn't quite make it to the town before we decided to turn back - 13 miles total was enough for us. Many of the cyclists on the path are light-weight(?) campers, carrying all their camping gear with them. One family we saw, the Mum was carrying most of the gear and the Dad had more stuff but with 2 boys behind him on a 'triple tandem' all sharing the load! Later, we spoke to an English couple and their teenage daughter who were riding from Toulouse to the Med in 8 or 9 days. The motorhome population had risen while we were out, to 7, and later during the evening another 3 arrived. The donkey seemed happy though - he would occasionally screech and bray to entertain us all!
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| Evening at Trebes |
Saturday 12th August
This was to be our third visit to Carcassonne (the last time being 10 years ago), but it is such a beautiful place to be, we decided to have lunch in one of the restaurants in La Cite, the ancient town built on a hill. After parking at the motorhome aire soon after 9am, we climbed the cobbled streets and looked in the rather lovely, but very expensive, touristy shops and read umpteen menus to help us decide where to eat. We chose La Table Ronde where John could enjoy the local speciality, Cassoulet and we could listen to the 2 Spanish guitarists playing.
A bit of information from the Michelin Guide - La Cite is the largest fortress in Europe, with the fortified nucleus, the Chateau Comtal and a double curtain wall: the outer ramparts with 14 towers, separated from the inner ramparts of 24 towers, by the outer bailey.
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| The 'entertainment' through the streets! |
An hour or so's drive this afternoon along roads bordered by acres and acres of sunflowers,
brought us to Soreze (now back into the Tarn region) and a delightful small campsite with a very laid-back guardienne - we were told to find a pitch to suit us and come back later to register our stay - she was going to have a dip in the pool! We've been chilling out ever since, and will explore the little town and take photos tomorrow.
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