Jules and the mighty GS outside our apartment in Paris.
We'll be home in a bit over a week and Nicholas flies out on Saturday for his own European adventure. Maybe Kate's right: we should have Roff Christmas in Europe. It's been a great trip. It took Jules a while to get used to the bike but good weather, less speed and plenty to look at made all the difference.
After a week in Paris we ambled down towards Spain. Plan A was Sevilla
but it was too far if we were going to enjoy the riding. Plan B was
pretty good - four days in Barcelona. A highlight was the
Gaudi-designed church but I'm not sure if it was a tribute to God or
just a man displaying his vanity. The newly religious Julia thinks the
former. For the heathens, a day on the beach is fairly revealing, if
you get my drift.
but it was too far if we were going to enjoy the riding. Plan B was
pretty good - four days in Barcelona. A highlight was the
Gaudi-designed church but I'm not sure if it was a tribute to God or
just a man displaying his vanity. The newly religious Julia thinks the
former. For the heathens, a day on the beach is fairly revealing, if
you get my drift.
We rode from Barcelona to Cahors in France which is in the area known
as The Lot, which is also the name of the dominant river. The Lot is
as The Lot, which is also the name of the dominant river. The Lot is
in the Dordogne region and is full of 12C architecture.
We had a night in the John xx11 Hotel in Cahors which is next door to
where he was born. I've already told you about his grave in Avignon
and, on the basis of this coincidence and thinking it might be some
kind of sign regarding my destiny, I looked him up on the inter web.
It seems he spent most of his time arguing with the Franciscans who
thought representatives of God should be considerably less
ostentatious than John xx11 turned out to be. No wonder it took so
long before a pope used the name "John" again.
We had a night in the John xx11 Hotel in Cahors which is next door to
where he was born. I've already told you about his grave in Avignon
and, on the basis of this coincidence and thinking it might be some
kind of sign regarding my destiny, I looked him up on the inter web.
It seems he spent most of his time arguing with the Franciscans who
thought representatives of God should be considerably less
ostentatious than John xx11 turned out to be. No wonder it took so
long before a pope used the name "John" again.
We've done lots of long walks which are constantly full of splendid views and rich history - what a treat.Tomorrow we head north again for a few more days on the road before catching a ferry to Hull in England and riding up to Scotland to visit old Emerald neighbors, the Bookers. Our kids grew up together and it will be nice to see them. They're rich, too, so I might finally get to eat some meat again
.
I've sold my bike for around what I paid for it and need to drop it off near London before we fly out next Friday night. Hope we can attach some pics to sweeten the narrative. See some, at least, of you soon.
One of Grant's dream cars - a Citreon 2CV
Market in Barcelona - mucho co our
A check tablecloth, a baguette, a bottle of French red, a field by a river - no cliche was safe from us!
6 comments:
Yeah, you had historically religious moments and enjoyed the rich culture of a beautiful country, but you didn't experience the visceral feel of the sound of Gold Coast drunks drifting up to the 29th floor as they fought their way out of nightclubs..
By the way, I played darts with Acker Bilk in Glasgow when I was 19.
Great post guys! Awesome to hear about your trip! Does that mean you are going to be in Scotland between the 7th and the 11th? Kate, Liz, and I are all there then, and it would be great to see you both!
Jake they willingly handed out darts in a Glasgow pub?? Ahhh the good old days....
Jake - read London Fields: it's about darts! Zac - tragically we ride out of Scotland on the morning of July 7. how bad was this timing? Looking forward to your blogs, though, and an explanation as to what's gone so wrong with your life that you have to travel with your SISTERS!
Grant-what a bummer! I think the girls are there on the 6th though, so if Kate/Liz are reading this you might wanna to try to get in contact! As for the other thing, obviously my life has taken a serious tumble for the worse after joining the "working world"!
Heya!
Yep, in a fantastic case of poor planning I get into Scotland on the 7th...sorry to miss you Grant and Juls, but am loving the posts, keep them coming.
Cheers,
Kate
Grant, London Fields is on order from betterworldbooks.com in the UK. $7.53 and no cost for shipping. Looking forward to it.
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