The Dordogne and Simorre

12.7

‘A bientot’ to Guy our camp Manager who helped us improve our French whilst improving his English!  We by passed Toulouse, Montauban, through small medieval hilltop villages and beautiful rolling fields of sunflowers, corn and oak lined country roads.   Through Castelnaudary to the tiny village of Durfort la Capelette where we decided to freecamp for the night in the park next to the school and opposite the Mayor’s office.  The outdoor power point next to the school came in very handy!

13.7
Up early and greeted by fields of ‘smiling sunflowers’and vineyards as we travelled the final 90kms to St. Colomb de Lauzun, about 30kms from Bergerac in the Dordogne.  We were met by our friends, Keith, Kirsten, Sandy and Edi who’ve rented a country farmhouse for the week.  Swims, catching up and a walk through the surrounding corn and sunflower fields.


14.7  Bastille Day!

We visited the small Medieval town of Eymet in the morning and headed for Bergerac in the early evening to celebrate Bastille Day!  Bergerac is the capital of the Perigord Pourpre and is one of the largest wine growing areas of the Aquitaine.  It is a beautiful town with restaurants, cafes, cobblestone
streets and a medieval river harbour.


After pasta and icecreams, we headed back down to the harbour to join the crowds waiting for the fireworks display to commence on an Island opposite.  At 10:30 the lights went out and a most spectacular and colourful  display filled the sky, choreographed to music and lasting for over an hour!  One of the best we’ve seen!


15.7
Up to the little village Boulangerie/Patisserie for ‘pain au chocolat’ and coissants for breakfast and visited the small privately owned medieval ‘Chateau de Lauzun’ also in the village.

16.7      
‘Canoe Detente’ bused us to Carsac and the Dordogne River where we paddled passed some of the most famous chateaux and pretty medieval cliff face villages that provided defensive strongholds against the English in the 13^th Century.  We spent a fun day canoeing 28kms with stops  for lunch and swims! 

It definitely got the muscles working!  We passed Chateau de Montfort, Vitrac, Cenac, La Roque Gageac, Chateau de Castelnaud, Chateau de Fayrac, Chateau de Baynac and Chateau des Milandes. 



7.7 - 21.7

After an awesome few days, we said our ‘goodbyes’ and left St Colomb-de-Lauzun making our way through Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Agen and Auch to the charming, peaceful little village of ‘Simorre’ with it’s fortified church.  It’s roughly 70k sth west of Toulouse in the Gers and our NZ friends Richard and Ingrid rotate between here and NZ every 6 months or so. 

Lots of catching up and  helping them work their way through some wonderful cheeses, wine/rose.  A true French experience!  We found a good parking place for Lefty right next to the X1Vth century church, he’ll be well looked after whilst we’re in London for the Games in a week’s time. 

Lunches at ‘Le Bourche a L’Oreille Cafe/Restaurante’ in the Square, the ‘plat du jour’, three courses with wine/coffee for 12 euros each.  Ingrid had enough of us after just one day and flew to New York on 19 July for 10 days!!!!          


We swam in the neighbours pool up the road, a beautiful home overlooking the sunflower fields.  Richard is house minding and pool cleaning!  Had a tour of the surrounding area following the route used by the recent 'Tour de France'.  Richard has been an amazing host but is secretly using us as guinea pigs for his new "French Experience"package holiday!!!  We will send an invoice!



Richard and Ingrids House