Cycling The Globe

A Cycle Touring Expedition Around The World

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Day 2172, Mirepoix – Beziers: French Charm

Posted by Thomas Andersen Posted on Jan - 12 - 2017

Distance: 120.7 km
Ride time: 5:29:50
Average: 22.0 km/h
Max speed: 47.5 km/h
Total: 55744 km

For the first time since somewhere in Africa we got a bit of rain last night. Luckily Manon’s tent turned out to be waterproof. The rain stopped before sunrise so after a quick stop in the historical city center of Mirepoix we were ready to hit the road in the fresh morning air.

We are now out of the Pyrenees and instead cycling through the country side consisting of fields and medieval villages. Southern France is charming.

In Carcassonne we found a local vegetable and cheese market and stopped for a picnic at the central square – does it get more French than this? 🙂

Afterwards we were looking for café, trying our luck at the first place we spotted. However, after ordering our two cappuccinos we were told in no uncertain terms that this was a restaurant and ordering only coffee was not acceptable. C’est la France – and I kind of like this direct way of being – they just don’t give a damn about politeness around here 🙂

Back on the road we had another little picnic in the wine fields before arriving at the camp site in Beziers for the night. We were pretty surprised to see one touring cyclist after the other rolling in. It turns out that we are now entering the Canal du Midi cycling route which is one of the most popular in France. Sounds good to me…

Tomorrow we are all set for cycling into Montpelier for a well deserved rest day after this non-stop ride since Tarragona on the other side of the Pyrenees.

Categories: France
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2 Responses so far.

  1. With that village centre, my mind was suddenly thinking ‘Allo ‘Allo. 🙂

    Btw, have you ever crashed while filming? 🙂

  2. Nope, I never crashed while cycling – that would otherwise have been a fun one to post. ‘Allo Allo’ 🙂