To Ispagnac, France

June 16, 2025

Jacinto's climbing route. He recommends it. Jacinto says he didn't pant like a dog at all. No problems.

Heart

Comment

Link

My cruising river route.

Heart

Comment

Link

Sleeping in is delightful. Even better, our room had shutters, so it stayed dark, and we stayed asleep until our 8:30 alarm. This might have been a forfeited rest day, but it still felt decadent. There was one other couple besides ourselves staying here. The breakfast spread had all of the choices, but not an overwhelming amount of food like we had in Lodeve. I felt terrible about the food waste there.

I thought we would waste time until check out, but Jacinto was ready to get going on the big climb. He had a 31 mile route. I agreed to take photos of him on the climb. It started right across the river. I didn't have time to get bored, waiting for him to come into view. A couple of switchbacks later, and I lost sight of him.

I decided to go ahead and leave. You never know what the road will bring. A headwind! That's what I had. What a surprise. I was expecting a tailwind. Ah, well. I can deal with a headwind for 19 flat miles. The views would distract me.

Traffic was less today. There were a number of tunnels, and small towns. This was my first day riding alone. Even I can manage one road along the river. Or can I? What happens when I get to town? I saw signs for a diversion. There was more information. I couldn't read it. I debated with myself about taking a photo of the road sign and using the translator on my phone. I had only a mile to town. I didn't want a diversion. Jacinto - now he would have happily taken one. I decided with only a mile invested, if I got turned back, I could deal with it

It looked like a roundabout is under construction right next to our hotel. Hurray for being right on route, with no confusing entries into the old town. I parked the back and sat in the shade to wait. I could see Jacinto on the GPS link he sent me. I ended up waiting 1.5 hours. By the time he arrived, I was really hungry. I thought he had the oranges and cherries, but when I opened my bag to show him I didn't have them, there they were - right on top!

Jacinto went and tried all of the doors at the hotel/restaurant. No one was there. I went back to my email, and then used the translator. It said to enter my name in the box, and get the key. Hmmm. What box? Yes, Jacinto had seen the box. Getting the key was easy. What should we do with the bikes? There was a large tiled entry room. That would work. As we were putting the bikes inside, a man entered the courtyard and asked if we had our key, and did we want to put our bikes in the garage. I told him they were already in the entry, and would that. be okay. He said yes.

We went on upstairs. Jacinto's first move is to always turn the AC up. No AC today. No fan. No one on the property. Today is Monday. The information says the restaurant will be open, but will it really? I ate my croissant and jam. Jacinto is saving his, just in case that is dinner.

Later we heard lots of rattling downstairs. Jacinto went to see what he could find out. Yes, there is food later. He got the wi-fi code. Best of all he had cold drinks with ice! Two nights in a row we've had ice. The only bad news is that we need to put the bikes in the garage, which was outside, around the corner and downstairs. Now Jacinto is sitting outside in the breeze, I'm finishing this, and we go to dinner in an hour. We are assured once the sun goes down, things cool off.

Edit - we went to dinner downstairs right at 7:30. By the time we left at 9, it was a full house. I wondered if the restaurant was that good, but Jacinto said maybe it's because it's the only place open in town. I saw a salad that had Marget Duck that Rich recommended. There were 5-6 thin slices of salty meat on top. I'd try it again, preferably as a full duck breast as Rich suggested. I ordered a double lamp chop for dinner, thinking I was getting two. No, it was one filleted open. Jacinto went with the safe sausage choice. Frog legs were an option again. We didn't try that.

Jacinto went hiking up the mountain in flip flops to see if the road was of a bikeable grade.

There were plenty of switchbacks. He decided yes.

His morning depart photo. Our bikes spent the night in the shelter behind him.

I had any number of tunnels today. One was a double tunnel with stop lights at both ends.

I took a solo banana break partway. It felt odd to ride alone.

Folk art along the way. There were live chickens in the yard below.

Any structure I see that has turrets is automatically a castle. I doubt my opinion is correct.

There were areas of the road with crushed limestone edges. I think it was placed there as a visual to keep drivers from the retaining walls. The sand worked well for cyclists.

At La Vallon hotel we entered our last name and it spit out our room key. We’ve never used that set up before, but it worked well.

We are not in a castle tonight. Here is our basic, serviceable 70 E room. It sadly lacks AC or a fan. We are assured it cools off nicely at night.

We’ve been seeing warning signs for sheep. Finally, live sheep.

Jacinto said the top was wide open, but the view wasn’t boring.

There were two of these lightweight planes.

The switchbacks back down the other side.

What is the man in back doing? Jacinto said he appeared to be steering.

Today's ride: 19 miles (31 km)
Total: 390 miles (628 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	9
Comment on this entry	Comment	0