Saturday, September 8, 2012
From Carcassonne to Saint Junien
Because I wanted to ride more then fourhundred kilometer today without using
the freeway or the peage, I was having breakfast at seven in the morning and
at half past seven I went to the garage to get my bike. Marc Bousquet, the
owner of the hotel helped me to get all my luggage at the garage and opened
it for me. A few minutes later, I left in the direction of Saint Junien, my
destination for today.
At 07:37 h I left the garage of the hotel
Because it was Saturday and I was not sure if all gasstations in the more
rural areas are opened on Saturday, I wanted to start with a full tank so
before I left Carcassonne, I filled my tank so I would be safe.
Filling up at the AVIA in Carcassonne
It was Saturdaymorning so there was not much traffic on the road. I enjoyed
riding on the winding roads and through the sleeping villages.
Some shops were already open and people walked to the shop to buy fresh
bread for breakfast and shops were getting ready for a business day.
Sleeping village waking up
After about half an hour riding, I came at a very nice viewpoint so I had
to stop to take some pictures.
Fantastic view
After about an hour or two, I realy needed to get something to drink so
I stopped at an parking area, along the D20, just past Les Vignettes, to
drink some water and to stretch a leg.
Along the D20
Refreshed, I got on my yellow BMW again and went in the direction of Cahors.
On my way to Barcelona I had stayed in a hotel in Cahors but now I was just
passing through.
It was great riding today. There was hardly any traffic on the roads, the
weather is nice (a bit to warm for me but I should not complain) and
the winding roads are a joy to ride. On my way to Cahors I came through
some nice villages
Passing a nice village on the road to Cahors
Cahors in almost halfway Saint Junien and this was a good opportunity to
fill up so I stopped at the Total in Cahors. (196,8 km on 9,62 liter is not
bad !)
When I stayed in a hotel in Cahors, I had dinner at the McDonalds in Cahors and
now it was almost lunchtime so I parked the bike at the same McDonalds to get a
cheeseburger, a Frappe Fraise (like a small milkshake) and a coffee.
I like to see my bike when I am in a restaurant
Some time after I left Cahors, I had been overtaking some cars but I decided not
to overtake the next one because it was a Gendarmerie car (French police).
Fortunately they were not driving slow.
Riding behind the Gendarmerie
Riding in France is so much different from riding in the Netherlands. In the
Netherlands, most roads are straight, and packed with cars, bicycles and trucks
but here in France, the roads are winding and empty. I love it !
Another nice road
At one o'clock I was getting thirsty again so I parked the BMW in front of a
roadside cafe to get a cold coca-cola. It was nice sitting in the shade and
drinking two cold colas with icecubes in the glass. Realy refreshing !
Cold cola at a roadside cafe
While I was on the road again I noticed a castle in the distance so when I was
closer, I found a nice spot to get a picture.
Castle on a hill
Most roads I have been riding today were two lane roads but the last part to
the hotel in Saint Junien the Tomtom leaded me on a very narrow one lane road.
Fortunately there was no other traffic so I could enjoy the curves.
One lane road to Saint Junien
Finaly, at a little over three PM, I arrived at the hotel. It is a big hotel
in an industrial area but my room is very big, clean and i can park the bike
next to my window. Like the hotel in Carcassonne, this hotel is also a member
of the Relais Motards so bikers are very welcome.
Hotel L'Azur Saint Junien
The view from my room
The restaurant at the hotel is closed for the weekend but a few hundred meters from
the hotel is an - all you can eat for one price - Asian restaurant so I had an Asian
dinner tonight.
A lot of Asian food to choose from
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