En velo through the vineyards

It's Monday night and after many miles cycling through the vineyards we're staying in Monpazier, a beautiful bastide town in the Dordogne region. The medieval buildings are fascinating and it's very arty so there are lots of ateliers and antique shops. Unfortunately most of the bars and restaurants are closed as it's Monday evening. Where do other visitors eat?

Our journey down to the Dover ferry on Friday was punctuated by a major accident which closed the A2 at Canterbury. As we were travelling in a double decker bus and towing a bike trailer it proved impossible to reverse or turn around with the other lorries. Eventually various willing volunteers detached the trailer and turned it around manually.

Our first stop on Saturday was St Emilion, a delightful place, albeit full of expensive wine cellars. The header picture shows Ralph following a glamorous bride through the narrow streets.

After we left there on Sunday we cycled along the rive gauche of the Dordogne, a stunning route but unfortunately Ralph lost his cycling gloves, went back to try and find them and got himself lost in the process. Thank heavens for mobile phones.

It was an extremely hot day so after around 40 miles we decided enough was enough and stopped at a countryside restaurant near Monestier, to ask about a room. They had one available for us and this time we remembered to ask if their restaurant (very busy on Sunday lunchtime) was open that evening. The answer was no of course but we persuaded them to make us a meal to heat up in our room, which turned out to be a brilliant gite complete with its own swimming pool and roosting sparrows in the nearby bamboo plants.

All of our rooms have been only 50 euros including breakfast, which is extremely good value compared to the UK. And chambre d'hotes are so much more interesting than hotels. Tomorrow we're heading for Sarlat.