Day 20. 45mi along a familiar route, the Canal du Garonne, to our conclusion in Toulouse.
Day 19 was an easy 39mi along the Aveyron that climbed to a road under the cliffs we saw from camp last night. A few more miles beside the Tarn to our arrival in Montauban.
Day 18. Rolled out late to avoid the rain. We still got wet in the morning, but the ride up to Najac’s 13th century castle was warm and dry. By the time the rain returned in the evening we’d already enjoyed sunset along the limestone cliffs of L’ Aveyron.
Day 17. Rolled into Capdenac after 63 steamy miles. The landscape went alpine to positively tropical with lush ferns springing from the banks of the Lot River
Day 16. 61mi through the volcano, past Puy Mary and over Col du Pas de Peyrol. A truly, staggering, beautiful day of riding.
Day 15. Started the morning at camp next to Chateau Lafayette. Poking around early, the gardener let us in hours before opening to explore the gardens in silence. After that it was 52mi to meet up with La Grande Traversée du Volcan with its volcanic cliffs, hill top villages and fast switchbacks. Tomorrow we climb Puy Mary.
Day 14. 50mi and into Auvergne, and this sweet 4 rider quad tandem. Lots of climbing today, over 100ft/mi the whole day.
Day 13. Lyon to Bas-en-Basset. 64mi. A morning of stop-and-go city riding gave way to tunnels of trees and sweeping mountain views. Some steep climbs to get up here though, including a short 25%+ grade.
Day 11. Julienas to Lyon. Goodbye Beaujolais and hello again rivers. The Voir Bleue must be the worst cycling surface I’ve ever seen. Clay over cobbles, oof. Detoured into the hills and working out a route into the mountains earlier than planned.
All we did was sit by the pool on day 9, so this is day 10. Julienas-Fleurie-Julienas. 21mi. A day of (relatively) unloaded riding through the vineyards of Beaujolais. A third of the distance, but as much climbing as any other day. We’ll head to Lyon for a day tomorrow, and then into the mountains of Auvergne.
