[France, Days 14-15] Tuesday-Wednesday, July 24-25, Bordeaux to Libourne & Saint Emilion: (40k & 20k)

Origin: Bordeaux, Quartier historique, 31 Rue de Argentiers

Destination: Libourne, Sophie's Air B&B, 17 Rue Chaperon

Libourne, France

Dayride: Libourne-Saint Emilion-Libourne, July 25

Tuesday:
Fearing the 94 degree forecast, we were heading out of Bordeaux by 8:30, crossing the Garonne River on the beautiful Pont de Pierre. 70 per cent of the ride was on bike lanes or paths; back roads provided plenty of rollers, and we started spotting vineyards after about 14 km. Took one break for coffee and yummy baked goods and another photo break at the Grand Puch chateau (too early for wine tasting). 

On the other side of the low divide that separates the Garonne from the Dordogne river before they merge into one, we arrived around 1:00 in Libourne at the square where the Tuesday market was just ending (As it has for six centuries).

Under the colonnade/arcade we found a Thai restaurant for lunch and pleasant conversation with a young couple. Spent a quiet afternoon napping at our Air B and B room, enjoyed grilled beef and duck for dinner at the Bistro Regent outdoors on the Francois Mitterand Plaza. We have become addicted to the Abatilles carbonated water from Arcachon to go along with the wines we are trying from this region. It was a pleasant day.


Wednesday:
Decided over fresh squeezed orange juice at breakfast from Gilbert at Brasserie des Arcades to leave Libourne a day early to divide the following long day into two parts. We have a new route back to the canal and a new reservation for tomorrow. 

Took a short ride to St Emilion for landscape and beautiful medieval town visit. Chateau after chateau of winemakers, in some families for generations...signs along the road showing their well known labels--all Bordeaux. Heavily laden vines of grapes stretched for miles into the distance. 

As we approached St-Emilion, the UNESCO cultural heritage medieval city, we admired the beautiful 5-6 ft tall stone walls separating the vineyards from the road. In some, at the end of each row, was a rose bush in bloom. Lots of activity in the vineyards with weeding and trimming machines. 

We joined crowds of tourists in this medieval town, walked around a bit and had lunch in the shadow of the bell tower. The plaza restaurant had misting fans cooling us all from another warm day. The church of St Emilion with its adjoining cloister was beautiful in its simplicity.