Agen to Caumont-sur-Garonne 39 miles   Running total 299

Here is todays route https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42298607

It is another bright, sunny morning, which we admire from our room. We are looking forward to the downhill ride to rejoin our route on the canal. It was strange at breakfast that our host put the TV on showing us the preparations for the coronation, the first TV news we have seen since we left the UK.

It has been like cycling in a warm snow storm today, with white fluff falling from trees. My compatriot and I took Pirton tablets this morning as we were sneezing and had sore eyes yesterday. Spring flowers look beautiful but have their side effects.

Another beautiful cycling day, in every respect, and long may this continue. The bike lubrication exercise yesterday has worked, and my compatriot is now removing the oil from her chain with her leg.

We have been lucky to be shaded from the sun  by avenues of trees

Sadly these trees will all soon be gone like the ones on the canal du Midi due to a rotting disease

We diverted into a village to buy some provisions and a coffee. The shopping was fine, but the posh restaurant only reluctantly served us coffee, but not with a smile. I don’t know what the problem is we have washed most of these clothes at least once in the last week! We drank up and moved on, much to their relief.

A little further on, we found a picnic area and toasted the king from our goblet while watching the coronation on a phone.

I lost the cork from the bottle, so I have sacrificed my water bottle to carry what wine is left ready for tomorrow’s lunch.

We found several watering holes today and availed ourselves of every one of them. All was going well with the world until I moved from Garmin to Google to find our accommodation. We followed the address picked up from booking.com and ended up at a small plastic manufacturing company. We went up and down the road, which was on a steep hill and then back into the village. There was now the sound of thunder in the distance, and we were starting to be concerned. We asked the only local we could find for directions, and she pointed back up the hill, where we had already been and said we needed to go for another couple of miles. Off we set and eventually found the place. However, there were now no local restaurants we could walk to easily, and my compatriot did not want to cycle back up that hill again.

Madam came to my rescue by both, saying confidently the thunder will pass, and also reminding me I had booked dinner on the terrace because there were no local restaurants. This is the trouble with booking 30 nights and not reading the spreadsheet that told me what I had booked. Good planning failed by a poor memory!

We had a lovely meal, including regional dishes and local products.  However, what I have noticed is that you are never asked if you are vegetarian or have allergies. It is just take it or leave it, just as it used to be in the old days. However, they do ask if you want red, white, or rose wine with the meal that you have yet to know what it is. They have the right priorities!