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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3688 |
4th October 2016 Mt. Biking: Lacabarede to Mazamert Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny periods Max Speed: 20.87 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 25.30 mile (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Tuesday 4th October – Bike **** - Lacabarede to Mazamert on the Voie Verte – The Passa Green Road – 25.30 miles, out 4hrs 30mins, max 20.87 kts. Last night we stood outside and watched the stars and shooting stars – it was wonderful but it is so dark here at the lake it was quite scary and the owls were adding to the atmosphere. We were both quite glad to get back to the safety of the van and locked the door quick!! Nice view across the lake this morning with a nice blue sky. We didn’t hang around because the sun was still behind the trees so we got on the road and headed the 14 miles to the next Voie Verte in our book from Labastide Rouairoux to Mazamet. We found the car park we were looking for at Lacabarede which was around 5km from the start at Labastide. We parked up and packed our lunch then started the track which was very beautiful at the beginning with great views of the thickly forested black mountains to the left and the Angles plateau to the right. The tree lined path loosely follows the river Thore which runs through the valley and we past fields of cows and crossed over the river with a view of a mill. As we got nearer Mazamet it got more industrial, some old textile factories had a certain attraction but there were also lots of modern industrial units which were not so attractive! The destination was the station at Mazamet and from there we headed up to explore the town which again was disappointing with nothing particularly old – we have been spoilt with all the medieval villages in the last few weeks! We did find a nice park with a bandstand and an ornamental pond which was full of fish, a mixture of gold fish and carp. We had our lunch and shared lots of it with the fish – they were going mad for everything we threw in and it was very entertaining. We headed back to the van and were surprised yet again to find that the track actually went up quite a gradual incline all the way back! We were out around 4 ˝ hours and did over 25 miles. Mag has pulled a muscle in her back and although it doesn’t bother her at all on the bike it does take her breath away if she catches it wrong – much like I had a few weeks ago :( We packed the bikes and equipment away and went up the road to Labastide to find a shop and had a look for the end of the track to see if we had missed anything by not doing the last 5 km but we are sure we didn’t and were too tired to think about doing another 6 miles by doing that return journey! We returned to the Voie Verte car park to park up for the night and enjoyed the fresh flute loaf we bought with butter and apricot jam with our cuppa. Had a rest and read our books then a small wander round the village which hasn’t got very much to offer and a main road running through the middle! Had a good e-mail for a change! I have got into the Landguard calendar again with a photo of a couple walking their dog along the beach – thanks to everyone who voted for me :) Have been invited to the ‘do’ in November but might have to think about that one!! Wednesday 5th October – Shop, sightsee travel, relax and little stroll – cloudy and breezy with sun later :) Okay night in the Voie Verte carpark in Lacabarede even with the tarmac gang working a nightshift in the town and the odd Gary boy racing up the hill! We had company last night another campervan but no walkers/cyclists turned up this morning as it was cloudy with the top of the Black mountains obscured :( Still never mind after two days of biking and with Mags back playing her up it was time to relax, leisurely read in bed before up for a hair wash and change of clothes, there is a limit on how many days you can wear the same pair of pants!!! Then sadly as Mag was boiling the kettle for washing water our gas ran out after a record 72 days! which meant I had to get up and do man stuff outside, taking the bikes off loosening the bike rack and changing the gas and at the same time topping up the water in the van as we had a supply in a toilet opposite:) Breakfast time of our favourite crunchy muesli with chocolate and nuts – nearly the healthy option! We must have bought a dozen boxes so far, then wash and clean clothes, we were feeling fresh and ready to face the supermarket in Mazamet and while all this was going on our neighbours had biked to Mazamet and back! Shopping done we head out up a steep windy road out of Mazamet passing several tanneries until we came to a tiny narrow road up to the Pic de Noire the highest point around these parts at 1211m. It was a bike challenge route but certainly not for us as it was very steep. Very beautiful passing autumn woods to the plateau at the top but sadly we were in full cloud now and you could see next to nothing and it was breezy too! We have had a picnic here before so were not too disappointed. Headed down ending up in Vileneuve-Minervois about 20 km all the way down and what a fantastic road it was as the cloud disappeared and we found the Mediterranean! The big tree covered Black Mountains gave way to vineyards absolutely stunning! We were impressed with the plane tree lined Vileneuve with its nice church and ramparts and people enjoying a drink in the street bars and cafes. We saw a sign to a moulin and after a round about trip we reached the restored windmill perched on a stone plinth surrounded by vines and almond trees – prefect:) With a big empty carpark, the shop closed for the season and very quiet we decided to make the most of the sunshine with lunch then relax and read but not before a little walk to look at the mill where we met another couple from Leicester here on holiday. My back started playing me up at the supermarket again but I felt fit enough to do my exercises as it started to cloud over. Then we had a wander to collect some almonds but on many of the trees the nuts were inedible being very bitter:( we then headed down to the village, met a couple of cats of character, found a Rue de Dolman which we will explore tomorrow in the van. We walked round the medieval part before heading back to the van for our favourite salmon – we know how to live:) With ibuprofen all around we hope our backs will be better soon! Photo Gallery here |
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