Back to cycling today. First a descent from this hilltop town to cross the infant Aveyron. (We had passed the source a couple of days earlier). Then steeply back up the other side, heading SW into rolling countryside with long views back to Rodez.

This was hard work, constantly up and down across the grain of the land. And so we decided to slow down, lose the final rest day in Cahors and turn 3 days riding into 4. By coffee time we had reached our highest point for the day and relaxed in a pavement cafe in Baraqueville. Then it was mostly one long swoop down to the day’s new terminus at Sauveterre de Rouergue.

This is a Bastide town, built as new in the 12th century on a grid design around a central square. It has not really changed since. We had a meal under one of the arches and then did nothing all afternoon!

The ‘campsite’ was a tiny triangle of land in a junction between lanes. It was free and had attracted a motley collection of semi permanent residents – who welcomed us by lending the communal peg hammer. So from a nice hotel in Rodez to squatting beside the road for free – all in 24 hours. Our trips Sauveterre de Rouergue. certainly varied!