Wrinkly, nutty, snuffling and quackers!

Tuesday 12th September 2023. Agen.

First of all I should show my route from yesterday…

I woke with my room mates. I had a good chat with German policeman called Christian, and we were joined by a French lad from Paris called Bissay (not too sure of the spelling). He could speak good English too and was on his first ever cycle trip.

We had had loud thunderstorms last night and today was cooler as a result. Rain was possible in today’s forecast but it didn’t rain.

However, the track must have had some sharp grit or glass because I had my first puncture. I just pumped it up till I got to the town of Marmande. I wanted to be close to a bike shop, as sometimes a new inner tube can get nipped as it pumps up.

The town didn’t have much to offer except a pleasant church and a topiary garden.

I got back to the canal and continued till lunch time. I found a small town called Le Mas-d’Agenais….

But better was the restaurant where I had lunch….

I carried on with the riding and as I cycled I was looking for the plum (prune) trees that Agen is famous for. I also looked other famous local delicacies….truffles in the edges of the paths, walnuts and ducks. All I could find was kiwi trees, apple trees and sweet chestnuts. Tomorrow I am definitely going all out to be wrinkly for the prunes, nutty for the walnuts, snuffling for truffles and quackers for duck. No comments please – telling me that I have already achieved those qualities!

I chatted to another English cyclist en route from Bath. Again, he was a plumber called Glen, 61 years old, but doing a first cycle tour. A real nice guy. He stopped an hour short of Agen to stay at a camp site.

Agen, itself isn’t quite as impressive as some similar sized towns. I am staying for two nights so I will have a chance to dig out all it’s good features. One good feature was a bike shop that was open. I replenished my stock of inner tubes.

I have a studio apartment all to myself tonight. It looks comfortable and modern and I took the opportunity to buy a small pizza and salads to prepare for my evening meal, with a glass of local Ribena. I can honestly say, it doesn’t even taste the same!

I need to use some spare time to re-choose my fantasy rugby team…I haven’t done too well in the first round of matches. I might even try to watch the Scotland v England football match tonight. I will have a night out tomorrow….today has topped at 23 degrees but the heat is building back to 30 again for the weekend!