High Occitanie!

Thursday 14th September 2023. Moissac.

Got a good start again in glorious weather. Todays distance was around 50km so not so bad. I thought I might arrive by lunchtime.

As I passed towns I noticed that the names were written in French and Languedoc! A language of southern France and an ancient region that is coterminous with Occitanie. It’s capital was Toulouse.

Isn’t he gorgeous! The picture was taken on my coffee stop at Valence-en-Agen.
I had a coffee eclair….don’t tell Janice that it squirted out onto my shirt!
It was handy that the town is known for its ‘Lavoir’, which is a washing place.

I deviated from my route to visit St Nicholas de la Grave, a small town Janice and I have visited before. It was closed last time we came and …..it was closed this time too. It is close to where that Garonne and the Tarn rivers meet.

That’s what I call a wide river!
St Nicholas Church.

St Nicholas does have an interesting fact, that not many will know.

This small museum is the house that Lamothe Cadillac was born. Who? He was a colonist in Canada, Louisiana and lastly Detroit, where he became the mayor and started the Cadillac car company! Interesting….it would be more interesting if the museum ever opened! I’ve been twice now and it only seems to open occasional weekends in July and August.

Back to the cycle route and I arrived in Moissac for lunchtime as planned. I was given extra power by eating a couple more pruneaux that I bought yesterday. I don’t need any high octane fuel when I have a stock of prunes! All eco friendly too….self generated wind power!

But when I arrived I couldn’t resist eating out again.

A real mix of pork fillet, Iberico ham, plum, fig, green, red and yellow tomatoes. Also, sliced chilli, mushroom and balsamic vinaigrette. Very nice with a glass of rosé Ribena.

The location for my meal was particularly stunning….

The 12th Century Benedictine Abbey. It’s original features are very much on display at the arched entrance and it’s cloisters.
There are 76 columns, each is individual and depicts religious stories or floral or animal scenes. Very old and skilful. They had a few deck chairs in the shade of the cloisters. I must confess I sat down and had ‘forty winks’! Is that a sin?….well I have confessed!

My route for today…

With my diversions I did over 50km.

I headed for my accommodation on the edge of town. I knew it was a quirky hostel type place. I found I was the only occupant for the night and was upgraded to my own room from the bunk room I booked. Here’s my room.

Definitely colourful and eclectic.

The second round of the rugby starts tonight with France v Uruguay. Uruguay haven’t played yet but I suspect they may get well beaten by a French second team. I will go to the town to find a bar to watch. Somewhere will be showing it….France are playing after all. I will go in my England shirt and see what response I get!

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