Resting in Gascony

Sunday 28th October in Castra-Verduzan - about 20k south of Condom. We had headed up the coast to keep away from the main roads but this also meant that we were well away from the centres of population and consequetly somewhere to stay so we headed for Mount de Marsan which looked big on the map. It was a great ride still on flat roads and in good weather. The town was great with small cafès around a square and river and bronze naked statues of women all over the place. we were a bit concerned about accommodation the following day so went into the Tourismo and asked for help. The guy in there was great - we discussed where we were trying to get to and he thought Gabarret would be a good bet for a hotel - after 15 mins on the phpne he finally located a place and directed us out of town on another cycle path.

On Thursday we set off along another great cycle path - fully paved for nearly 20k. We met a Frencfh couple who advised us to take the road for the last 30k as the cycle rou
te was rough. They were great fun -  she speaking good English and he kept interjecting telling her what to tell us although not understanding a word of English and thus not following the conversation at all. We arrived in Gabarret at the hotel at about 4pm  only to find that it did not open for another 2 hours - it was raining nd I thought ba...... as there was nowhere to shelter. Then a smiling face appeared at the door and we were in. What a great plCe - such friendly folk and fantastic food. The man of the house did the greeting and serving and he made me laugh. No English and spoke realy slowly smiling all the time nd acted just like Bazil Fawlty when trying to impress the 'Hotel Inspector' sort of bowing and rubbing his hands together.
Then Friday it was to here  in pouring rain and on terrain getting ever hillier. We are now staying with Julia and Mike in a fantastic old French farmhouse being fed and watered with local stuff and some smooth , velvety red wine.Not only that they have a great washing machine.Mike and I were at school together and I think the last time we saw each other was about 1990. Since then he and Julia have had many adventures not the least of which was sailing around the world in their yacht taking 3 years. I have just seen a video of Mike from 1963 when he was a fresh faced new chum at HMS Conway  -
my how that brought back memories.

We set off tomorrow on the last leg of the trip to the coast - it will probable take us about a week.