Lots of conversation over breakfast, trying to explain to a German woman travelling with wheelchair and Zimmer frame that she was not the only non-cyclist around the table.
I let Marie-Dominique go on ahead and did not leave until about 8:15. Before regaining the river, I had to walk over a hill along what was cheekily called the Boulevard des Pyrénées, and then down a “steep and rugged pathway” which I failed to “tread rejoicingly.”
In fact, I wondered about getting out my trekking pole, but knowing that, once down the hill, it was level all the way I decided against.
After a slow start, my energy returned, and I was sitting opposite a canal lock contemplating my lunch stop when I was hailed by a couple of Canadians, Ingrid and Robin, who offered me a ride in their boat. Too good a chance to turn down!
They wanted to visit some wine cellars, which would not open until 2 pm, so it was a very leisurely afternoon. After taking the boat through several locks, they eventually put me down just before the railway bridge in Cravant, leaving me only about 2 km to walk to my accommodation.
Here, I finally had a chance to put my walking clothes in a washing machine, and a meal of which tomato salad, rose wine and tiramasu were the high points.
And so to bed.
emeritablog: life after work 