To Vers

Day 13 Salviac to Vers (50km)

Sunny and very hot

We had planned today as a short run of 50km to Vers, which we could do in the afternoon after taking part in all or some of the rally ride for today. Unfortunately their intended route to Domme is in exactly the opposite direction to our route on to Vers. Also the weather forecast for today is for blistering hot weather. So, we decide to cycle down to the campsite to say thanks and goodbye to everyone, then return to give our farewells to Martine, before heading off on our own before the day’s heat intensifies.

All good byes said and our food shopping done, we leave the silver salver with Martine to post home for us (having previously jettisoned the heavy wooden base) and donate our goody-bag to her. A final photo of Martine, Sheila and the trike and we set off alone again.

It is a rural ride including unclassified small lanes through Dégangac, Laverdantières and Bonnet. We encounter grass in the middle of the road, rough surfaces and for one rather exciting (but luckily short) spell going downhill on a newly gravelled road where there was so much loose gravel it was impossible to use the brakes. And the climbs are steep requiring our lowest gears. Fortunately there are enough shady spots on the way for us to pause for a drink and cool down.

At Gigouzac we find a shady bench in the small square ideal for a PaR stop. While there John explores on foot and finds a café hidden just around a corner so we adjourn there for some SdM&C.

Approaching Vers we opt to switch to a more main D road dropping down the valley of the river Vers, which speeds us along beside valley cliffs to reach the River Lot once more and into Vers itself. We pedal slowly through the town and find a picnic bench on which to set up our picnic lunch.

It is still early so we are not sure that we will be able to check into our hotel yet, but we return through town and ask. Success, we stow the trike in a garage across the road and are shown to our room overlooking the Vers river just before it joins the Lot. We have air-conditioning too, which is an unexpected and luxurious surprise. After some chocolate and S&W we take ourselves to the hotel swimming pool and spend a strenuous afternoon either in the pool or on a lounger and under a parasol beside it.

And some of the folks back home think we are hard cyclists. Just to complete the holiday spirit we punctuate the afternoon by indulging in a Café Liegeois ice cream break. All is rounded off by a very acceptable dinner (trout) in the hotel, before retiring to a cool bedroom.

DAY 14