10(7) - Figeac Loop

Saturday 01 October / Cloudy early, sunny noon, then cloudy, then spitting
Distance Log:  Geno 65 for 385, average 64 per day for 6 days
Lisa 0 for 259, average 52 per day for 5 days
Map for Day 6 and 7
Snack Break (video)
Last Supper (video)
My Favorite Photo of the Day

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

Music you hear is called 'You and Me' written by me (1976), arranged and performed (1994) on piano/computer (disclaimer, it will only sound as good as your sound card as it is a .MID file)

Nice breakfast, boost to the caves for our start line.  Today is billed as 120 km loop, which from what I can tell, no one does.  So we got a boost to the caves giving us another over 60 km goal for the day.  Lisa decided to stay in town and explore Figeac. 

At the caves, except for Doug and Paula, we bailed and got on our bikes.  Unfortunately it was only 15 km to our stop point for our noon picnic.  On the way there I heard others say "what a pretty town atop that cliff".  The instructions said "look to the right for a great view atop the cliff..."  Whenever I saw that, I knew it meant, take a look, you are going up there!  The climb as advertised (2 km straight up) was well worth it.  We picnicked at the top, what a view.  We later went down into the town for coffee.  I asked the nice gentleman for a Coke Light, he laughed as said "non!".  So I had 2 big glasses of the best grapefruit juice I have ever had.  We had a great time.

Then off we went.  On the road now, I did some math.  We have around 50 km to go and not much time left if we want to get back and shower before dinner.  Then the keeners smoked by us one by one, including Cathy of course.  She invited me to fly with her.  I did.  I passed her at such a speed the wind almost knocked her over.  And then 1/2 km later, I thought it polite to let her by and catch up with the rest of "them".     So back to the math, I had to step on it.  I wanted to ride the whole way back and knew if I didn't, the van would be trying to scoop me up.  So I set my goal, 50km, 2 hours - knowing that there was a 5 km climb near the end that I usually go up at 12 km per hour, so... I needed to keep the speedometer near 25 km/hour minimum.  Head down, off I went.  Whenever the speedometer even hinted at going lower I chanted to my self...  "Foie gras de canard... keep it over 20 ... no way the van is going to catch me...foie gras de canard..."

Next thing I know, I am at the base of the hill, I've got 1 inch of water in the bottle, a peach and some other piece of fruit.  Oh oh.  So, more goals.  At one third of the way up, the peach, next third the other fruit, 1 inch of water only at the top.  Well I made it, I kept looking back for the van; but at this point the deal was once I was one inch of the way up that friggin hill, if the van comes around, pass the water and keep on going.  At the top, it started to spit, which unfortunately made the descent a bit slower and less fun.  Slippery on those skinny tires and brakes do lose a significant amount of stopping power.  Anyway, what a rush.  Connected to the road I entered town on yesterday, this time ignored the map - once I've been anywhere once, I never get lost (except for Rocamadour loop), and to the hotel I went.

Meanwhile back in town, Lisa was visiting a wine store called JollyGoodFrenchWines.com run by an English chap.  I guess the store was buzzing with all the wine tasting going on.  Lisa says she did run out of things to do and would have liked a half day ride.

Dinner... private room... the whole group for the last time... very nice, slightly sad knowing it was coming to an end.  I had the duck, yup #9.  Hey I even remember having foie gras de goose at the picnic lunch again.

I hope someone at least, besides Lisa has read my story.  I know its nothing great, no great novel, I know it is all about me, it always is.  I hope you read on.  In upcoming episodes... Lisa and I next see more of France for 2 days in the car, we get held up by the French transportation strike, we freeze on the top of a bus in London and much much more.  Come to think of it, this was my last duck.  Thanksgiving day dinner at my mom's usually includes both a turkey and a goose.  She does both.  As a kid, I always took the turkey.  What kid likes duck or goose.  So I was just savoring the thought of goose.  Ouch.  She surprised us with turkey and lasagna.  Oh well.

As a final thought on the cycling trip, this was the best vacation we ever had, this truly is a vacation of a lifetime.  There is no better way to see a country.  Cycling allows you to see it, hear it, feel it, smell it, taste it, touch it.  Other than walking, how else can you experience this?  That said, we will definitely do it again.  Croatia, here we come (once Freewheeling sets it up)!  If you are reading this and you were not one of the lucky ones on this trip, what are you waiting for, let the adventure of a lifetime begin, click on the link or graphic below...