use was only 30km (chickenfeed!) but the last 7 or 8 km were a treat as the walls of the semi-industrial area we went through were covered with stunning graffiti. The hotel (Grand Hôtel d'Orléans) an idiosyncratic little place with inner balconies covered in plants.Pretty, but the downside to this concept was that someone speaking loudly on the ground floor could be heard with crystal clarity on the third. We discovered this very early the ne
xt morning! However they were very understanding about bikes and allowed us to put our bikes in their inner courtyard. Then off to check the departure points of the airport shuttle, buy another map (to get us to Toulouse), have lunch and a glass of wine in the sunshine – after which a siesta became rapidly indispensable.
Toulouse is another town which has taken the bike to its heart. There are plentiful ‘velib’ so we used them to go out for a meal in the evening. We were armed with a list of restaurants from the Guide du Routard but none of the highly recommended ones had outside terraces and we wanted t
o enjoy the evening air so we settled for a little L
ebanese place. Nothing grand but ‘correct’ and outside in the evening air. The town was hopping as it was the national rugby championship final between Toulouse and Clermont Ferrand but the feeling in the streets was very good humoured – even after Clermont won! And just to prove what a small world it is we bumped into our fellow guests from La Grisolles just outside our hotel. They were setting off from the station tomorrow morning so a strong possibility that we will met again.
xt morning! However they were very understanding about bikes and allowed us to put our bikes in their inner courtyard. Then off to check the departure points of the airport shuttle, buy another map (to get us to Toulouse), have lunch and a glass of wine in the sunshine – after which a siesta became rapidly indispensable.Toulouse is another town which has taken the bike to its heart. There are plentiful ‘velib’ so we used them to go out for a meal in the evening. We were armed with a list of restaurants from the Guide du Routard but none of the highly recommended ones had outside terraces and we wanted t
o enjoy the evening air so we settled for a little L
ebanese place. Nothing grand but ‘correct’ and outside in the evening air. The town was hopping as it was the national rugby championship final between Toulouse and Clermont Ferrand but the feeling in the streets was very good humoured – even after Clermont won! And just to prove what a small world it is we bumped into our fellow guests from La Grisolles just outside our hotel. They were setting off from the station tomorrow morning so a strong possibility that we will met again. Total to date 640km
