After our rest day in Toulouse we hopped on a regional train, a TER, and got a jump on a strong headwind day to Tonneins, which is on the Garrone River, the same river as Toulouse. The Lot River and the Garrone come together at the confluence just southeast of Tonneins, so we rode east to meet up with the Lot and head upriver. One of the allures of riding a river is that you tend to stay on fairly flat ground.
But, if you want to ride some hills you get that opportunity when you ride up to the towns along the rivers which are mostly tucked up high and dry above flood level.
Or, you take a route up onto a ridge above the river. Most folks would think that flat riding along a river is ideal, but it does get a bit dull, and our legs and rear ends appreciate the hill climbs and coasting downhill. What can at first seem like a gratuitous turn or two, ends up somewhere lovely. Sometimes new signs will contradict Koomoot directions.
We had one of those contradictions at a single track trail by a rail line. Koomoot wanted us to cross the rails on a road behind us and stay in the right bank of the river. We ultimately chose the single track. A stretch of nice weather, no wind, and a beautiful river to ride.
We were moving each night, riding happily along, but moving always means unpacking and packing. It gets tiring. Especially with bike panniers. What a mess. Our next stop was Cahors, where we checked into our hotel and immediately decided to stay another extra night. We got to town in plenty of time to unpack, shower, relax a bit and head out to a chocolate shop. And napped. Stay tuned for more Lot River. Unfortunately, some rain is in our future. The highs and lows of traveling by bikes. Our cycling trip could be called the nooks and crannies of France.
