DAY 14: CASTELJALOUX - LACOUR: 90km
FRIDAY 12 JUNE

I woke up after a really good nights sleep to the sun streaming through the curtains - the good weather had returned. It was a shame we couldn't have put the trip on hold for a week back in La Rochelle and then started again in the good weather but unfortunately it doesn't work like that! I felt sad that it was our last day. I was feeling really strong and could easily have carried on for another few weeks.

We had a lazy breakfast in a nearby cafe

We were both feeling really relaxed and didn't feel like rushing. We were enjoying sitting in the sun eating a really delicious baguette we had bought from the baker's opposite but at 10.30am decided that we really ought to get going. The lane out of Casteljaloux was quite steep which came as a shock after the day before's flatish ride.

The view from the top was worth it though

It was lovely to see the Lot et Garonne scenery - we knew we were nearly home

The familar red brick began to appear on the buildings




The fields of maize looked stunning in the sunshine




We didn't see any other traffic on the wonderful rolling road

However we did see two snakes one was road kill the other unfortunately was not

and lots of baby sunflowers. It was a shame we were a month early

The climbing paid off - it was downhill all the way to the canal

As we descended a long hill we stopped half way to check our rims as we had been using the brakes a lot, and they were red hot. We had to wait a while for them to cool down before we could carry on as we did not want to risk getting a heat puncture.

We stopped in Damazan to buy a picnic

Having bought our food we made our way to the canal to eat it and on the way there passed a really nice looking Italian restaurant with a cheap menu which was annoying. If we had seen that before we had bought the picnic we would have eaten there.

We didn't linger over our lunch as it was too hot even in the shade




It was a relief to find some shade by the canal




The Canal Lateral looked beautiful




During the afternoon we had our first and only puncture of the trip - on the trailer




We had got into our stride as we approached Agen




as we knew we were on the home straight




When we reached the 1,000km mark we were feeling good




We had a bar stop in Castelculier

We didn't leave Castelculier until 6pm; our slow start from the morning had caught up with us. It was still very hot and although we still had a few km to go the route was now very familiar as this was the road we use frequently when we go to Agen shopping.

We knew this view so well




Really not far to go now




I might be biased but this was the best countryside of the trip




Our first view of Lacour




The hardest kilometre of the trip

We stopped at the bottom of our hill as the Garmin batteries needed to be changed. It also gave us time to discuss the next kilometre. We were both feeling good and although it was 8.30pm by this time it was still very hot. The decision had to be made - do we cycle up our hill or do we just accept that it is one hill too much and push?

We decided that we would give it a go but if either of us wanted to stop then we must say so. What we didn't account for was the fact that we wouldn't actually have the breath to say stop even if we had wanted to!

We were both struggling but neither of us wanted to be the one to give in and then, just when we were both thinking it was impossible, we saw our French neighbour outside her house at the top of the hill. We had no choice - we had to go on. And then she saw us and started cheering and clapping, this caused another neighbour to come out and join in and by the time we reached the top of the hill diners in our local creperie had come over to see what the commotion was about. It was a fantastic moment - one I wish had been caught on camera - as our neighbours and friends from the village lined the road and cheered us to our front door.

We had made the 1km up our hill - and the 1,035km before that



The tandem could have a rest now too

Our neighbour very kindly invited us for a cold drink and we then went home and had a shower as if we had just arrived in the car and everything just seemed extremely normal. However, our achievement was brought back to us as we walked over to our local creperie and some friends from the village clapped as we arrived. It was lovely to be back in Lacour and we enjoyed the rest of the evening sitting outside chatting about our trip and reading all the congratulatory texts I was receiving while watching the sun set. It was the perfect end to the trip.

We were home