Riding Solo

I sit in the TGV from Agen to Paris…ridding the wanderers of two months luggage and travelling light to our next destinations!!!!

Yesterday was a repacking day in readiness go for Sue’s solo trip to Paris to leave 2 (large) suitcases at our final destination! A small shop and lunch at Le Clerc (supermarket) at 1pm and resting afternoon as the rain dropped down off and on all day….the flowers above are just on the plants around our hotel, flourishing in the cooler wet climate of south west France!

In the evening we had a drink at the hotel with the owner (she only had coffee) and enjoyed the friendly street cats getting spoiled with hotel (cat) food!!

Very healthy street cats!!!

We turned in around 9pm…and of course Sue was up early…mentally preparing for her rather large side trip to Paris…

This morning was rather overcast and cool, so we took a long walk around the Fumel area to warm up!!

Passing what appeared to be some old (now unused) public baths – don’t know the back story on these…

Down to the Lot river…

Locals fishing…

The old bridge archways

The new bridge crossing…under which we walked..

With murals telling the story of the original lifeblood of Fumel – the now closed steelworks, which even supplied parts of the Eiffel Tower in Paris when it was being constructed.

Several kilometres of derelict steel works buildings lie beside the river between Fumel and the next town (Monsempron)

We walked for around 2 hours, main streets and back streets admiring the huge back (vege) gardens that hide behind the Main Street fronted villas!

We now know how the locals spend their days…many were out pottering around in their gardens.. just a note here…all weed sprays, insecticides, chemical washes are banned in France..as deemed to be bad for animals and humans! I guess that explains why much is overgrown and weeds sprout up everywhere….as they have a free range life!

We headed back to our hotel around midday to get ready for the afternoon train rides…

Stopping half way up the hill on a couple of very strategically placed chairs for legs that need a rest!

Kevin dropped us to the local train at 1pm, Trudi accompanied Sue and Bags on the first 45 minute ride, hung out at station until Sue and Bags safely ensconced in Paris bound TGV (3-4 hour journey which was an hour late leaving) , then caught the little train back … for a good nights sleep and sleep in while Sue stays the night, dumps the bags and retraces todays journey in reverse from Paris to Fumel’