From La Riole we were driven to our Gite La Peyriere, west of Saint Hilaire.
Route Changes. After picking up a local map, we discovered a bike trail alternative to take us to the Garrone River and Midi Canal Bike Path. As one path ended south of Langon, we diverted to Chateau Fort Roquetaillade. Privately owned and open only one hour per week, we enjoyed the view and sauterne grapes in the opposing vineyard that the harvesters had missed. Delicious.
Major Wine Producers Everywhere.
Landon Mural
Former Windmill. We think. Feedback, anyone?
Promise Fulfilled? A pre-ride promise was to bike portions of the Garrone River Canal. We were getting close at this point.
Cafe/Dessert. We stopped for a late lunch at the western end of the Garrone River Canal Path, the first restaurant. Nearing 2 pm, the plat du jour was nearly out. We enjoyed an excellent entree of fish, risotto, and squash puree, followed by cafe. We were confused about whether dessert was included and were immensely pleased.
Robin leading John and Michael. Perfect fall weather and colors.
Me Too. This appeared to be a boat exiting a canal lock with two mothers and their daughters crewing, clearly in a holiday mood.
Potential Poster Photo for Mothers Against Drunk Sailors? Folks in La Riole could tell us the location of this boat.
Pro's and Con's of Pre-Booked Lodging.
The pro's are pretty obvious but the cons are not:- You have to find the place, on bikes, with often poor gps/web guidance.
- You must ride the entire route, too late to cancel, which limits flexibility.
Our first 3 nights were pre-booked. La Riole was the first unbooked lodging. We rolled into La Riole about 3:30 pm and stopped at a local bar for assistance and beverages. We discovered the entire town was booked for a 2-day baroque music festival. Our new Parisian friends (below) began calling lodgings and then accompanied Michael to Tourist Information (TI). After initially saying nothing was available, they called Bernadette at Gite La Peyriere, who accepted us. They wisely insisted that they pick us up in their van. About 20 minutes later, Serge appeared, loaded 4 bikes, Robin, and John and departed. Michael and I remained, waiting for Serge to return. Then Bernadette appeared a few minutes later in her car. After thanking the TI person for the referral, Bernadette drove us to the rural gite and placed three of us in a triple room and Michael in the attic. Our stay involving dinner and breakfast could not have been better, the type of experience one hopes to find.
Our Parisian Good Samaritans.
Although Robin didn't know it at the time, Serge was on his way.
Dog of the Day. Tri-Color English Setter, Goliath, at Gite La Peyriere.
Gite La Peyriere. Consisting of 50 hectares (about 150 acres), this hoist was used to hoist bins of grapes into the trucks bound for the local wine co-op. Grapes have to be transported and crushed within 90 minutes of harvesting.
Gite La Peyriere Main House. Our bikes are in the portion with the tall wood sliding doors. Our rooms are behind the next door. The hosts live in the far end, and Michael was awarded the children's attic room. Seems he snores a bit and John insisted.
Al Fresco Dining. What a meal! Baguette, white wine, Bernadette's garden tomatoes drizzled with olive oil for the starter. Grilled squash and chicken in coconut milk for the entree, with red wine, followed by salad, an assortment of 12 cheeses, and then a gateau. The white and red wines were from their local co-op, all local grapes.
Larry, Goliath (an appealing beggar), and Michael, hiding behind the red wine bottle.
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