Back from the holiday. Worst holiday *ever* - I learnt the French for fleas and
cockroaches - long story will do a full report when I catch my breath.

Waffles, Francis and Marble pleased to see their humans again, and we are to
see them. Loads of purrs and headrubs from Waffles on my return :-)

The holiday was ruined by the gite being *infested* with fleas and visiting
roaches. Vernon, Nathan and I got covered in bites. The gite owner was, well,
the terms I could use are indescribably rude. He was not French. The French
people we came across were *wonderful*. They were kind, generous, friendly,
trusting, warm and lovely open-hearted people. French motorists are great to
cyclists too. I'd certainly go back to Bordeaux and the surrounding area, but
not to a certain gite!

The cycling was good on the whole - even in the rain. Some of it too hilly for
me, but most was very pleasant. There are tarmac cycle trails in Bordeaux which
Sustrans could learn a thing or two from - the trails followed the lines of
disused railway tracks which have been converted into cycle trails.

I discovered the joys of Lipton Ice Tea (peach flavour) as an effective rocket
fuel for my cycling. Much better than isotonic stuff for me - it kept me going
on a full 70km on a bike loaded with full rear panniers, full big saddlebag and
barbag. At the end, whilst tired, I wasn't exhausted, which was a very pleasant
surprise for me.

Off to catch-up on post holiday laundry…

Cheers, helen s

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