As many of you know, I was once a cycle tour guide in Europe (which was the genesis of this blog). The company where I worked for all those years, Blue Marble Travel, has shaped my life in countless ways. This week, I am back in France, riding one of those Blue Marble routes, but not as a guide; this time I am riding solo.
As I mentioned last week, Souillac is not on many lists of “must see in France” but Day Two’s destination, Rocamadour, should be at or near the top of every one of those lists. In fact, Rocamadour is the third most visited place in France, after Paris and Mont Saint Michel.
The direct route between the two towns is neither all that long (23km (~13 miles)) nor all that interesting, so I opted for the suggested Blue Marble Travel (the now defunct cycling tour company for which I used to work) route of 65km (~40 miles), which meandered through a few small towns (and over some easy hills) along the Dordogne River before climbing over a ridge and down to Rocamadour.
The Strava profile of the route.
The elevation profile. Not gonna lie, as a Houston flatlander for the last 8+ years, that climb had me worried.
The view from my room in Souillac was characterized by rather ominous skies.
The fact that these were put up early in the morning did not bode well, either.
Just outside of La Cave.
The cliffs along the route were magnificent.
Just outside of Floriac.
I stopped to help this little guy get out of the middle of the road.
Carennac, my goal for lunch as there were not a ton of options until Rocamadour.
As weight loss was one of my goals on the trip, I tried to eat a salad for lunch every day. In France, salads are both filling and works of art (and no, that is not a beer in the background—it’s iced tea, I swear).
More Carennac, and just at the start of the day’s big climb.
The town of Miers after getting to the top of the climb.
Who says the French don’t have a sense of humor? Yes, it’s a bit dark, but still… (“Drive Faster! There are still children, old people, dogs, and cats to FLATTEN!!).
Today’s destination: Rocamadour.
My trusty steed, just before the descent into Rocamadour.
I will be back next week with more on Rocamadour, truly an amazing spot!
the drunken cyclist 