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Sarlat-La-Caneda via Limoges and Poitiers to Tours (5,142 kms)

Oct 02, 2011

According to our maps we had over 5 hours travelling today so we headed off at 8.45 am to beat as much of the heat as we could and the ride initially was pretty chilly but just beautiful as we wound our way down from the mountains in the soft morning light through many small villages and farms until we got into more open land with larger settlements and ultimately larger fields as well.
The ride through the woodlands was spectacular with the morning light gently filtering through the green and gold leaves and producing dappled shade where I suspect was more dense shade a couple of weeks ago. The further north we have travelled the more the autumn tones are obvious in fact there were probably more shades of gold than shades of green in the deciduous forests today and not quite so much of the clarets colours as had been evident yesterday.



Stained glass window above the altar in St Peters Cathedral Poitiers. Built on the remains of ancient churches in the 1100's and known for it's light interior. In remarkably good condition and undergoing a major refurbishment program which will cost heaps. Glad it's not my responsibility.

The day consisted of being committed to making a mile and giving ourselves enough breaks to not make it punishing. The fact that a good deal of it was on country roads helps with not sitting hard on the seat in one position for too long, but with a maximum of 90kmh for heaps of it and village speed limits of 50kmh meant slow travel for a lot of it and we only got on to some motorways just after Poitiers.



The Loire River - Tours

By the last fuel stop before making it into Tours I had shed all my layers of linings, leather vest and long sleeve shirt leaving just the sleeveless T top but I was still grateful once we got into Tours that the streets were shady and our hotel wasn’t all that far from where we got off the motorway.



Street scene in Tours of some of the quirky buildings. The buildings of the old city are largely different to those in Sarlat but it is still tempting to start snapping the camera every corner I turn around!

We had coffee at a little bar in Limoges amongst the locals and several walking tours past the cathedral and then lunched at a little village with a comedian for a chef so it was a bit of fun and after a walk around the old part of the town tonight had a yummy dinner and came back to the hotel to crash for the night.



St Martins Basilica - Tours (a local saint from 360AD). The original Basilica of which a little remains was built around 470AD and the current one started in 1860 and completed and consecrated in 1925. Had a lovely feel about it

Last nights’ accommodation:

La Villa de Consuls
3 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau
24200 Sarlat France

Yummy little accommodation on a walking lane (very quirky) with a number of accommodation options within the one complex attached to a central reception area courtyard and breakfast room. Units are close enough to apartments to call them that. No sink but a microwave and fridge and plenty of utensils to manage. There are communal washing machines and dryers (no charge to use other than soap powder) which is brilliant for any travellers especially for these ones on the road for a good number of weeks. There is a bar next door if you don’t want to walk anywhere but heaps of choices for restaurants within easy walking distance. Secure parking available not all that far away and a host who carried all our bags upstairs and supposedly told Sharen that our bags were heavier than hers (jury is still out on that one!) He was even about to come and look for Norm and I and Ken as he thought we had been longer parking than he anticipated…how good is that! Would stay again given the opportunity.



La Villa des Consuls hiding up a little lane in Sarlat




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