Day 9 (updated!)

St. Sernain-sur-Rance to Lunas:

Although we had a slightly later start to the morning due to a late breakfast (thanks to the hotel), we made it to Lunas in very good time, through terrain even hillier than yesterday. Incredibly, at the final stretch of the day, Will still had enough energy to fly along at 40km/h!

At the top of a very long and tiring hill, we were greeted with this sign; good work!


A group photo at the top of the hill
A lovely view from the mountain depicting our last couple of days: hilly but beautiful French countryside!

Day 8

Rodez to St. Sernain-sur-Rance:

A group photo at the top of a hill. What we didn't know was that there was a considerably larger hill coming up...

Jun cycling in for a break by the side of a road

Nick, Will and Jun, with the fabulous (and very hilly) countryside in the background

A view from the top of the longest hill we've ever encountered. A sight well earned!

Taking a break after the long hill - feeling tired, but spirits are high. Less than 20km to go until the hotel!

Day 6 (2 days late!!)

Rest day on Wednesday, though we made sure we got the most out of our stay in Cajarc, the countryside, and the weather!

We fight over our manager, who has now sadly left us ;-(

Getting ready for our kayaking/canoeing trip down the river

Matt before his shave with death: the haircut (which was not half as drastic as hoped by the others)

We prepare bikes for the next day, not too much to do really ;-)

Jun was just far too quick for anyone on the river, even without rowing, maybe he has special powers?!?!

Will and Matt going at full pace... literally

A lovely day on the water...

Jun doing a Will, generally looking very relaxed.

Day 7

Cajarc to Rodez - 78.1km

Back on the road again today after a lovely break in Cajarc. It was tough getting back into the swing of things, especially with the terrain slowing us down (up and down, up and down...), but we arrived in Rodez with plenty of time to spare!

Bidding farewell to Nick's grandfather, mother and uncle (a.k.a. our manager). It wasn't an easy climb getting up to that spot, to be honest...

The cyclists arrive in Rodez!

The cathedral of Rodez; a very artistic picture, don't you think?

Day 5 (rest)

Rest day!! A picture of Will, with some people in the background

The lads go out for a swing in the town

Jun likes the countryside

Visiting the Abbey of Marcihlac, with the Gaffer (Nick's uncle - the yellow one)

A tight encounter with a tractor on a small country road... Matt just about comes out alive

Another picture of Will... sleeping

House from the front, great views in the other direction

The house where we have been staying... FOR SALE!

Day 4

Day 4: Belvès to Cajarc

130 km

Average speed: 25.4 km/hr

Very hard morning, panniers seemed to be getting ever heavier and legs increasingly stiff. Route was less hilly than expected as we stayed on main roads, but a tough slog nonetheless. We met Nick's mum and grandfather for a coffee stop, at which they also took our panniers off us for the rest of the day... BLISS!Matt looking thrilled at the prospect of another full day's cycling... Hair slicked back ready for a photo pose

What a surprise! Stop for a coffee break and the manager of the café was wearing a Union Jack, we couldn't have been happier, and then we also got to ride without panniers!

Riding into Cahors, no panniers (for the first, only and last time!), therefore speeding along (safely, as ever)

As soon as we stopped, Will got down to his eyelid inspections, no time for slackers!

During the lunch break, we went for a swim in the hotel pool, where our 'manager' (Maël) gets thrown into the air

Matt's bike gets inspected, disassembled, and rebuilt, with a new chain set... "It's well smooth now", he says

Our carriage of preference for our stay in Cajarc, a Merrari... A gorgeous, (un)reliable Citroën of which we are fierce supporters

The Mayor interviews us during the drinks reception for tourists in Cajarc, very welcoming and generous, both in words and in donations

A pose for the paparazzi!

Chilling in my Grandfather's pool, watching the sunset, before going in for dinner. Should be 2 rather relaxing days!

Matt and Will enjoy the delights of continental alcohol by the pool!

Days 2 and 3

Day 2 (1 day late - sorry!): Chérac to Ribérac
Distance cycled: 104km
Average speed: 24.1km/hr

It was very hilly towards the end which tired us out, but otherwise not too bad during what was a boiling hot day!

Matt can't resist dancing to the tunes of Take That... Perhaps his iPod needs updating?

Just setting off. You can't really see the mist on the ground from the photo, but it was terribly idyllic!

Our bikes at the lunch stop, organised and never out of sight!

Some found the lunch break too tough to handle... Or maybe the biking is tiring, who knows.

Day 3: Ribérac to Belvès

Distance cycled: 108.5 km

Average speed: 24.5 km/hr

Another hilly day, but we used the main roads to make the ride smoother, although it did make it a bit longer.

Not many pictures taken today, as we concentrated on the ride and ended up too sweaty

to do very little except sit around in the shade.

We got one nice picture of our entry into Belvès, which was up a very steep slope indeed.

The village is very nice, situated on a mountaintop, and as we got here at about 14:00 after a hard slog in the morning, we had a two and a half hour long lunch in a restaurant.

We then went for a dip at the local swimming pool (apart from Matt, who doesn't see himself as much of a swimmer), and as I write this the others are watching the Athletics world championships: go Bolt! (Update: 9.58 seconds!? That man can't be human...)

All very anxious about tomorrow, although a pre-planned restaurant meal for lunch by a pool should be a good motivator. Tomorrow is our longest day, about 120km, we think.