Day 17: Miramont to Sauveterre de Guyenne: Menu of the day : tomatoes, tobacco and potatoes harvest

August 19, 2014

Another nice day bringing us closer to Leognan. Nice hilly country roads, fear of the day : Rex, the german shepherd, fortunately, the owner called him back on my URGENT request.

Track J3 44 km

Tomato field leaving Miramont de Guyenne.

Tobacco drying process in Allemans. This is hard work a tobacco plant is very heavy

The harvesting machine automatically makes a cut into the stem in order to hang the tobacco up side down. Nicotine returns sticky stems.

Drying there for about two months. Of course we ask if it was possible to smoke the leaves: anser is no, to harsh, to strong. People did try to smoke them during war world II.

Special machine engineered to cut Tobacco because manpower is too expansive

Thomas on his way to cut tobacco, no machine, by hand

Family farmer harvesting potatoes since 5:00 am today to now 10:00 am

The farmers just bought the machine beginning of this year. Very expensive ...

This potato id called Carrero, and they are hudge. The farmer gave us one potatoe, enough for a meal. By next Thursday night, I hope to eat baked potatoes

I had the privilege to go onboard the machine with the farmers. Harvest for this field is 45 000 kg of potatoes. They have to be sorted went coming out from the ground. No word was exchange because they have to concentrate on their task. Some big one were not good, they had mold on them and were putting aside to feed the pigs

Hard working farmers. More detail here :

I have to weight this potatoe ! Roughly, I would say around 750 gr. Weight is 30 ounce ( 851 grammes)

Duras, lot of english people on terrace sun bathing

Entering the small village of Castelmoron d'Albret

Today's ride: 53 km (33 miles)
Total: 994 km (617 miles)

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