nbjtours

Cahors to Conques

88 miles 3271ft climbed

We had just arrived inside the Delfour biscuit factory showroom ( http://www.biscuiteriedelfour.fr) and been shown around the various biscuits and cakes when Dom pronounced his desires. Now we’re unsure if he truly meant this but after being given a panier managed to fill it with as much as he could before deciding that was as much as he ought to take.

Suffice to say that the owners were very happy that Dom and the rest of us had come to visit. She told us that they started in 1920 making local versions of the Madeleine called Maryleines and the business still remains in the family four generations later running from the same farm using converted barns halfway up the hillside.

Going back to the start of the day we decided to go back into Cahors as we missed the defining image of the city. It’s famous bridge.

Not only did we see it and ride across Chris was able to start his pilgrimometer early. The total for the day getting to 39. Nicks dogometer started very slowly but did have a late burst to get to 24.

The extra run into Cahors added five miles to today’s total. We then ran out of town along the river Lot which we followed almost all day.

To get to the biscuit factory we had the most aggressive climb of the day allowing us this super view over the Lot. Whilst in a straight line our cycle today may have only been 50 odd miles the river meandered back and forth inbetween its gorge walls all day. Not only did this mean extra miles but with a strong northerly wind we would alternately get a head or tailwind.

After the biscuit factory visit we were able to enjoy a swift downhill before then running by the picturesque Lot.

We swung from right to left of the river trying to avoid the busier main road although whenever we did find ourselves on it for a mile or so a call went out to the Cabrera train to speed us along.

At one stage we joined a cycle path that was cut out of the rock face and this was another first for one of our trips. Mostly it was ok but there were a couple of rough sections where we had to be careful not to get pinch flats.

In addition there was no side to the path so when passing walkers extra care was required on the slippery stone. Moving out of the cut rock face we then had to dismount to get past a lorry working on the repairs to a lock gate.

The scenery was some of the prettiest of the tour so far with the limestone walls of the gorge cut out by the river.

Whilst I’ve not mentioned the roadside flowers much we have continued to see orchids everyday and had a few more unusual and lime specific plant specimens today.

Our lunch stop was beneath a small village and the rabbit that we saw yesterday was once again out on his bike about two miles beforehand to tease Nick again.

As we were gradually climbing all day the road was mostly slightly uphill but on a couple of occasions it looked as though we were cycling downhill because of the rock strata. Very strange.

Whilst some towns and villages were clearly lived in there were many abandoned properties ripe for conversion and we constantly crossed an abandoned railway which must have been one of the most scenic ever built.

Towards the end of the ride we turned off the larger Lot valley to get to Conques although we remained without a new stamp in our pilgrims passport because the two places we checked out had their tourist office closed today.

We did have a tea stop as it was not the warmest of days but the sun shone more often than not. Nick however did feel the need to put his arm warmers back on before setting off for the final leg which meant this became the second longest day of the tour.

Because it was cooler the pork chops with Monica’s creamed mustard sauce and asparagus & potatoes was a huge hit. Nick’s partial success at cards last night deserted him as Dom trounced the opposition this evening with Nick failing to bother the scoreboard. Such a difference to last year.

A super days cycling in comfortable conditions and fabulous scenery as well as a bit of a mixture on cycle path and road whilst climbing gently. We now have but two tough hilly days left to complete the trip.