30th June.

Woke this morning to a very heavy dew both inside and outside the tent. Sleeping bags wet at the bottom where they were touching the tent. Cloudless sky and looks like we should have been up and away earlier. The church bells rang for ages at 7am. No sleeping in in town but I managed it alright. I was awake during the night with a few aches and could hear music. I asked Annette if she could hear it and go a negative reply. Since I'm the deaf one I thought it must be my imagination but every time I put my head down I swear I could hear a beat. Anyway at 4 ish I got up to the toilet. (I just knew I had too much water with the wine last night). Trooped past the only other caravan between us and the toilets and light on and music playing. Grrrrrrr. Probably gone to sleep with it on. Job done and back in the tent and only then did it dawn on me that I should have pulled the plug on the power supply.

Up and showered in the new shower block and very nice. Nearly all the blocks are uni sex but it is strange where they put the mens urinals. Hardly private.

Packed up with a very wet tent and damp gear and off walking along the road up the river. Not a bad road trip today. Cool and nice to start with and plenty of shade. Odd very nice house.

Missed a side road into a village so no purchasing lunch. One of the few rest stops and doesn't she look cheeky. Been awhile since those legs have seen the sun.

Stopped at one of the many canoe launching sites to have dry biscuits and cheese with water and dry the tent and gear. Other people there having a great lunch spread with wine. We provided the entertainment whilst we quickly pitched the tent and spread the gear out to dry. Huge tables.

Strange looking bbqs.

Any way, tent dry and nearly packed up and the others all quickly packed up and all drove away. Maybe it was the smell of our socks and boots when we took them off and they wanted to be gone before we could ask for a lift. Off again and into the hot sun. After a while walking along long straight section I noticed a large shadow pass over me. Thought nothing of it until it passed over again. Looked up and bloody he'll, two large buzzards are keeping pace with us. I knew I was hot and tired and was getting a bit hap hazard with with my line of travel but I didn't think it was that bad. Annette informed to straighten up her walking and it wasn't long before they left us for greener pastures.

Lots of kids canoeing down the river and it looked a lot more cooler than walking.

Into the town where we are staying before we knew it. Found the camping ground and went to pay and put on my glasses and couldn't see properly out of my right eye. No wonder the buzzards were keeping an eye on us. Hang on, no glass and frame broken. God not again, busted glasses. Checked pocket and found lens, phew! Paid and told Annette and she had a look at the frames and not broken but tiny screw missing. Pocked checked and screw located. Screw soon secured in section of tape and later in tent so we couldn't lose it, fixed with the trusty pocket knife. Caravan park was very shady and tent up, showered and washing hanging out to dry in no time at all. Off to check out the town. What have they done to the trees? Straight out of Lord of the Rings?...

Lovely enough old place but nowhere to get a meal tonight so maybe scraps. Stopped off at a bar and had a nice glass of rosa, should have got a bottle. The lovely old lady was chopping up a goose and putting it in a pot for lunch tomorrow.

Back at the caravan park to find the small reception area all set up for evening meals. That will teach us for not asking. The gent who booked us in, saw testing the pool and helping to plumb up the new sinks was now the cook. Him and a mate tried to get me to order the E15 menu meal but I knew enough French to know it contained 'gesiers' which I believe is chooks guts, so nooooo thanks. Annette had some type of ham steak with salad and I had fish with French beans and it was the second best meal I've had since arriving in France so you just can't tell.

29th June

Today we left Cahors. Finished breakfast and out the door into the misty rain. We walked to the train station where we caught the bus to Tour-de-Faure, about two days walk out of Cahors along the Le Lot river. It was an interesting drive with the bus going through the tunnels cut into the cliff side. We missed the bus stop and had to get the driver to stop. You just can't take some people anywhere. You wouldn't think she was off for a week in the country with that old fellow.

That sorted out we walked back and over the river into the village of Saint-crib-Lapopie. This village is one of the 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' (most beautiful) and is very old and beautiful. It is perched on an outcrop of rock overlooking the river.

On the way in I spotted what I could do with at home, another red haired lass who could shovel sand and handle a wheel barrow.

We could have spent hours there looking around instead had a cup of hot chocolate and a quick look. Not many people around that early in the morning and all the tourist places (just about the whole place) were just starting to open. View down the river.

Off down the track to the right of this building to walk back down the river along the famous 'Ganil towpath'. This was one of the must see items and it didn't disappoint.

This is the tow path.

Back across the river at Bouzier and the back up river to the joining with the Le Cele river. Got bused through here this morning. Annette was hoping none were due.

Then off north along the Le Cele river for the next few days. Yep for those who got my email with the proposed agenda, it has changed. We are now walking north east along the Le Cele river to Figeac. No buses along here so we have to made it under our own steam. We reached Cabreret our destination, just in time as we were both starting to feel the strain of the first days walking. Tent up in the caravan park and instead of having a snooze it was back into town to have a look around to see if it was scraps or a proper meal for dinner. Cabernet has a few interesting homes built up against the cliff face.

Located a restaurant that would be open for dinner tonight so back to the tent for a bit of a rest. Dinner was a simple meal with a couple of glasses of wine and heaps of water then back off to bed. You sometimes have to pinch yourself to remember exactly where you are.

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28th June.

Had a bit of a sleep in. This is the view from our window.

Spent the day having a good look around The old section of Cahors. This is part of the old wall section which was around the old town.

Checked out the old cemetery. Some interesting iron works. The old city wall forms one side. Probably the only reason it is still there.

Up and down the old city streets trying to keep to the shade. Can't believe how hot it is. The body must be still in Hamilton mode.

I know why churches are so popular to visit. It is the only cool place.

Found the remains of the old roman ruins that we couldn't find yesterday. It was under the square in one corner of the car park. Looked like the car park had three levels. Must have been a big hole.

27th June.

Finally left the apartment in Lyon. Thank you Alice. Oh, I finally realised why Annette was taking so long on the toilet. The months kept changing.

A shot of the view from her apartment and the stairs, although we usually took the old creaking lift.

Took the train to Cahors which involved travelling through parts of the country that we had previously travelled with Sue and Vince. Waited on the platform where it said carriage 5 with a big crowd of people, heaps with large suitcases. Himm, going to be a rush and a problem finding space to store the pack, especially where we came keep an eye on them. Annoying when people arrive after you with bags you see them push their way to the front to get in first. The train arrived and the driver must have been having one of those days cause he stopped the bloody thing with the engine in front of us which meant everyone started to nearly run back to carriage 5 with us just standing there. Lucky for us it was a double decker and nearly all the people with luggage were lazy sods and had booked seats on the bottom so they didn't have to take their luggage up the stairs. Up we go and heaps of luggage space. Annette gets the window seat with the good view from up the top. You know the drill, ladies first. Within 15 minutes she is nodding off. So much for checking out the country side. Tried to get a photo but every time I moved she stirred.

Had a lunch stop over in Toulouse (felt like we were nearly in Spain), where we were politely asked to move from the hungry jacks type stores outdoor seating area where we had eaten our salad rolls and drinks we had purchased elsewhere and were just sitting there filling in time. The cheek of them. Shot of the canal in front of the station. To hot to explore the town and no where to leave the packs.

Moved into the stuffy waiting room and Annette went of to the toilet. Came back and said she had been told off in no uncertain terms by the grumpy lady in the toilets for combing her hair in there. Obviously you can make a mess in the bowl and she will clean it up, but don't dare leave a few stray hairs out in the sink area.
Off on the next train travelling back north to Cahors.

Arrived and now hot, hot. Got the packs from scraps of shade to the pretty main shaded street. Happy to be there.

Accommodation place closed until 4.30pm so sat in the shade and waited. Finally booked in. Pretty nice place in very old building with air-conditioning in the main rooms. Out and a walk around the town and had a meal in a large restaurant, very much like ours at home. Everyone was eating inside and that will tell you how hot is was out cause most of them smoke and they can't inside. Finished the meal then a quick walk to the main square to find the roman ruins. Looked everywhere and could only see signs to a car park for the ruins. Not where they were shown on the map. Oh well, done to have a quick look at the old bridge and back to the hotel to check the washing hanging discretely out the window behind the half open shutters. Too hot for anything else so off to bed.

25th & 26th June

Sorted out some more Internet access for the iPad. Also spent considerable time checking maps and saving information on the iPad. Paid a final visit to the gardens and gave the apartment a bit of a tidy up. Walked a different way to the gardens and located a large garden centre. Had a good look and all Annette could say was that she was still glad they didn't have the fish at work anymore.

The kids and old kids train was still going around and looked cute.

Watched a young boy throwing rocks at the ducks on the lake and had to stop myself from going up to him and trying to tell him that if he keeps it up he will fill it up and that was wrong cause someone had to pay for the hole to be dug in the first place. Annette said I was just grumpy.

Found this section of garden that had rocks across the pond that really did look like they were floating on the surface of the water. You couldn't help but expect them to tip sideways when you stepped on them.

Had a nice weeping conifer, just have to work out where to plant one.

Back to the apartment for one last night in comfort and to bed early for an early train.

18th to 24th June. Still in Lyon?????

Well we are still in Lyon. I know we only planned on staying a few days but the apartment is so comfortable and convenient (and free) that we just don't want to leave. One of the motor bike clubs were holding a political demonstration, one bike, one vote. They were all lined up in the hundreds along the river. So were the police all decked out in their gear and they had it pretty much under control. No riders not wearing helmets, not like we let them get away with at home.

We spend some time exploring the old part of the city and did the tourist thing and went on a tour of the Traboules, passageways from one street to the next which were used by the silk weavers.

I wonder what's down there?

Still happy and a couple of views of the river.

Now not so happy after I pointed this young fellow out to her. That's us next week.

Maps everywhere and still not a clue.

Had a good thunderstorm which helped to clear the air and the streets. It had been hot and very humid ever since we arrived. The storm is on it's way.

Guess who got caught in it. (still haven't figured out how to get these to load correctly)

View of the back courtyard of the apartment.

12th to 17th June. First few days in and around Lyon.

Our first day in Lyon and off sight seeing. A view of one of the rivers and a happy Annette.

Found this roman building on the way up the hill to the church and the view of the city from the top. Went for a bit off a walk and found other roman ruins. Well worth a visit.

First time I've see this but it didn't surprise us.

Visited the city of Vienne where they discovered an extensive roman site, Saint-Romain-en-Gal, in 1968 when they went to build a high school. A lot of the mosaics are housed in the museum building and are fascinating.

The whole site is about 7 hectares. Roman streets, bath house, three houses and a large warehouse.

The houses have internal courtyards, sometimes two. Must have been a great life for the owners, not too sure about the slaves.

Had lunch back in the town and there was a big thunder storm and it stayed raining so we missed out on seeing other roman remains but we saw this on the way back to the train station.

Checked out the main square on the island between the two rivers. They had some sort of expo on. Turns out one of the uni's do it and the plants get donated to the schools.

Love the farm display. These had pretty good detail and I could do with a full size on of these at home.

Maybe our new uniform????

Just one side of one of the fountains were came across.

Walked to the large park not far from the apartment. Huge and crowed with people. Also included the zoo. Heaps to see and we went back when it wasn't so busy.

This fellow may have been eyeing off lunch?

Found a great display of tree peonies. Pity they had finished flowering.

Got a house that they won't let you knock down? No problem, just build all around it.