Boog's Blog

6 September overcast and some drizzling

Perfect bike ride.  Uphill for 8kms rising 100m and then down 115m at the same slow descent.  Finally a short climb into Montcuq with it’s tower built in the 12th to 13th century.  In the 13th century the armies of Simon de montfort occupied and pillaged and the town again pillaged during the 100years war. Never really recovered. 

Nice old buildings and the tower. Not much else.  I even checked at the touristic office.

QB walking today. Slow but real progress.

Leaving cahors was via 3kms of car dealers.  Then the pictured wine place.

For one point identify the crop.  Have seen many sunflower and summer wheat farms but I cannot guess this one. Dee has two points for the pun,in French, identification. 

6 September Overcast, very humid, some light dripping

A few parts to this post: the ride to Montcuq, QB walk, the fabulous and interesting place we are staying, and comments about the exterior of the buildings.

Not very clean socks.

In the post by KB the ride was discussed and QB’s (aka Slacker Pilgrim) walk mentioned. This post contains pics from her walk.

Slacker Pilgrim cabbed to Lascaban (“village fleurie,” very clean stones, closed). After marching forthwith in the wrong direction, wheezed back uphill and headed toward Montcuq, allegedly 9km. Interesting walk over open Heath with old sunflowers (photo). Occasional sprinkles, no wildlife or roadkill. Surfaces of paths are white. Area is called Quercy blanc. Saw shepherd’s hut. Arrived Montcuq in time for lunch (croque madame); otherwise Moncuq mostly closed. Watched guys playing petanque (photo). Found open boulangerie.

After suitable investigation of the village we went to the Chambre d’hôte. This is a renovated 15th century building – renovated by Bob and Claude Vell, previously successful in the fashion industry.

see http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Vell

naturally you can use google translate to convert the page into your native language.

Their place is described at

http://www.4ruemontmartre.com/anglais/home.html

but sadly it lacks pictures of the place. Some are supplied in this post.

As a side note their daughter has a restaurant in Berkeley, CA.
http://www.lanoterestaurant.com/

Discussed with Bob that the exterior of the buildings in this region, for the past several days and even longer, are clean and scrubbed. Not like the North of France we were more familiar with, nor like the South when we last visited. He said that persons here take pride and have spent the expense to clean up the lovely buildings, unlike other parts of France. It is quite spectacular to see. Bob and Claude being designers are heart have done this place with great care and outstanding taste. Including washcloths in bathroom. Unseen elsewhere. QB clean for first time since leaving Cali. 75 steps from the basement to the top floor – Bob and Claude will remain in good shape.

Dinner was suggested for 8:30, much later than the 7:30 we have been accustomed to. We may have compromised on 8pm due to early bedtime for pilgrims. Changing as we get closer to Spain?

Shout out to Nike dri fit socks with R & L foot. Sold in packs of four. Better than regular hiking socks and not very expensive. Similar hi-tech socks here are 9euros.

Some additional pics

4 September Overcast and very warm but not able to cook eggs on cars,

QB is slowly recovering. Nowhere near recovered but it seems to be in the correct direction.

Rolling ride into the old town of Cahors. Dropped down, fast, the final 150meters Straight down and then all of a sudden the town and bridge appears.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahors
Cahors was prominent in the Middle Ages and saw considerable conflict during the Hundred Years War and the later Wars of Religion. It was also infamous at that time for having bankers that charged interest on their loans. The church in these times said that using money as an end in itself (usury) was a sin. Because of this Cahors became synonymous with this sin, and was mentioned in Dante’s Inferno (XI.50) alongside Sodom as wicked.

From city mythology:

One of the reasons the town was popular for pilgrims as they could find not only lodging but medical care in specially build “hospitals” financed by public charity.

Believed to have been founded in 1st century BCE build around some sacred spring. Barbarians invaded during the 5th to 8th century. St. Didier, 636-655) rebuilt and strengthened as well as added the ramparts.

One of the bridges, the one with the tall defensive towers, was built in 1291.

Denis: If you have Ian’s email address please pass on the new blog link of
boogkb.wordpress.com Also send me his email address

A day of markets, both in Lalbenque and Cahors. Naturally the one in Cahors was much bigger. Many fresh fruits, tomatoes, and breads were acquired and consumed. Nice pilgram welcome on the bridge – fruit and cold water and collection of marketing information.

Wonderful flat ride here. Told it was flat but indeed it was rolling with a total ascent of over 200m. Getting easy to climb, and think.

What one realizes after reading Medieval history, Pillars of fire, and seeing all the Bastide towns is the importance of quarries, the necessity of walls to keep the outlaws and often the tax man or sheriff. These beautiful walls and towers on the hillside are a living example of what was necessary for survival.

Libby – Curious about your impressions of Pillars of Fire after you read it. Mostly curious what you think of his writing. I read so little fiction I have no basis for comparison on quality of writing.

Yesterday’s experience in the Chambre d’hôte had a bright side. For decades we have been seeing the outside of French homes, country side and small town homes. Never been inside to see what they contain. Finally we have and as the picture I will eventually send from the Nexus will show. We see an example of a nicely fixed up place. Outside is rather dull as all the country side homes are. Behind the shutters it improves as one expects and, of course, not in the way a US home would look. Stone walls, hand built in the forthcoming picture.

This place in Lalbenque is a renovated old farm. Modern fixtures and beautiful wood high vaulted ceiling. Extremely nice.

Sent from my iPad

Testing email address of new blog

trying to practice with wordpress in terms of adding pictures

And now add a second picture after the first picture and these words

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!