One day…two experiences!

Tuesday 19th September 2023. Colombiers.

After yesterdays reunion we we were on our ‘new version’ of travelling, where Janice drives the van and I do the cycling. We had a agreed a destination north of Narbonne and a likely lunch location at Argens-Minervois. Janice had also taken on the task of finding a filling station that sold LPG to refill our gas bottle.

I was ready to go….and no luggage to slow me down. The day was sunny and soon became very hot, topping 30 degrees later in the day.

The route was much more mixed than other days. I cycled on a dual carriageway for about 4km then got on the canal path but then cycled through small villages and fields of vines. I could even smell the grapes.

Apparently there is currently over production of wine in France and they are having to switch to making other alcohol products from the excess wine. Well, I’m making myself available to take the excess back to the UK with me.

Meanwhile…..Janice was dealing with Murphy’s Law. She had been to two LPG filling stations, one was open but she nor the attendant could get any into the gas cylinder. The second station was closed! then she had sat nav problems trying to get to Argens-Minervois. Google maps took her down single track roads and small narrow villages. I waited nearly an hour for her to arrive! I cycled it in less than two hours! We had a bread and cheese lunch and separated again. I was heading to our next aire, via Narbonne and Janice headed straight to the aire.

Got a call from Janice….the aire is closed off and shut! She’s not having a good day. She now headed to a supermarket car park in Narbonne….I would cycle to her and we would head off to find new LPG and a new place to stay overnight. We met at the car park without a problem.

We headed to LPG locations. The next was closed!! The fourth was unmanned and the pumps were so close together that we couldn’t drive the van to the pump!! Grrrrr!

Playing it safe we headed to Colombiers where we knew a free place to wildcamp close to the Canal du Midi and a small town.

We stumbled across another LPG filling station and gave it a go….fifth time lucky. We got 8 euros worth of gas into the cylinder. It was probably only a third empty but it’s difficult to judge when to refill. Anyway, it was an eventual success.

We settled at Colombiers, calmed down and after a meal we had a nice walk along the canal and in the town. It’s a popular leisure boat haven and has a few restaurants full of the people who hire the boats.

The Rugby has another day off today. I had to update my fantasy rugby team before the next set of matches. Not doing too well, my older brother and son are both thrashing me!

I have had a lovely sunny day of bike riding in beautiful vineyards whilst Janice was franticly struggling with LPG, sat navs and driving small roads. I hope this eases as we settle into this mode of travel. The last bit of Murphy’s Law was the internet wouldn’t let me save the blog. I was going mad yesterday trying to understand why…..everything else was working on my iPad. I think I know why now, but I gave up on it in frustration last night. All sorted this morning!

Last of all, yesterdays cycle route….