9(6) - Off To Figeac

Friday 30 September / Sunny and warm
Distance Log:  Geno 68 for 320, Lisa 64 for 259
Map for Day 6 and 7
My Favorite Photo of the Day

(Remember the menu to the left has albums of photos)

(Remember for the panoramas at left, once they finish downloading, moving the cursor to the bottom right of the photo allows you to view it full size and scroll and explore.  The detail is amazing, eg. you can actually see a stop sign...)

This morning after breakfast, many of us decided we preferred a boost to somewhere near Carlucet (about 14 km from our Inn) (much of it a gigantic climb).  Of course, the keeners, and you know who you are, needed no boost.  And almost got to our starting point before us. Impressive! 

However, as I said before, once you get to the bottom of a hill there is no where else to go but up.  The reverse is also true.  We now were near the top of a cliff with an amazing but slow descent.   A great site alongside a river, beside a farm, with a bridge overhead.  Here skinny dipping took place again. 

Rather than talk of the ride into town, I'll let some of the pictures speak for themselves.  The countryside was breathtaking.  So after lunch, Lisa and I set out ahead of the others.

Of course being a bit competitive, minutes later I thought I must try and catch them.  Head down, away I went.  An hour or more later I entered town, no sign of anyone ahead of me (of course); but, I never did think I would catch them.  Oh wait, there is one small detail I should discuss.  The error in the map.   The reason why all the people I left behind me when I took off after Kathy, all got to the Inn an hour or so before me.  The map error.   Anyway, I got to see the town, some land around the town, the street the Inn was on, and the street the Inn was on, and on, and on, as I circled the Inn thinking "where is it" not knowing "there is it"!  The sign at ground level said something to the effect of "Ministry of Tourism".  I thought that was a funny name for a hotel.  Four feet up above the door read "Chateau du Viguier du Roy".  Who looks up (especially that high) when riding as bike?    Anyway in the end when I thought this has to be it, it has to be somewhere here, I circled the little square until Steve came in and said "ah there you are"... 

Aha, here is something funny.  Of course no one believed me regarding the map error.  They hummed and hawed.  And a whole pile of laughing.  But, in my defense, there was an error and it must be under review at this time by my dear Cathy.  How am I sure.  I asked her a favor if she could send me a copy of the route this week so I could use it to make this site, scan the maps, get the town name spelled correctly.  Guess what, I just noticed.  The map in error was not included.  Clever. 

Tonight we were on our own for dinner.  Lisa and I went out, walked around, met up with Steve, John and Cathy and had dinner outside a small restaurant.  I had #8 with frites.  This place had a funny pricing scheme.  I wanted 4 scoops of lemo sherbet (the scoops are not big in France).  The menu said 2 scoops for 3 euros, 3 scoops for 6.5 euros.  John and I question the logic and were told that is the price.    Ok. 

After dessert, it got kind of cold and so we called it a night.  But, Cathy and staff were staying at a different Inn and wanted to see our room.  So off we went around the corner to give them a peek.  The lady at the desk (later we found out the owner), said you can't take them up, no guests.  We countered with "but she is paying the bill and would just like to see the room".  Suffice to say, in France, sometimes or more often I'm told but did not experience, it is the owner that is always right and not the customer.  Ie it is a privilege to be staying in my hotel.    To finish the story, they got to see the room and then they got to apologize to the innkeeper (who was very ticked off) on the way out.

   
PS..  Found the map in error, and corrected it.  View corrected map.