We we not looking forward to the degrading canal trails. The route showed very few paved sections. It was going to be a bumpy ride. I looked at the the map to find sections we could jump on the roads.
Our of the hotel to the trail was with the mid morning traffic on mostly shoulderless roads. To me this is better than most riding around in the States as the roads are good, the cars are going much slower, the cars are smaller and the drivers are far more courteous. Laurie was a little rattled by the traffic.
The trail was at best hard packed dirt road and often loose gravel. It was slower going.
Several times we got on the road but Laurie was not comfortable.
As lunch approached we picked a restaurant on the main road. When we got there is was closed and probably out of business. There was another 5km closer to Carcassonne in a small town and we headed to that. We went into the nearly empty restaurant and were asked if we had a reservation. No. Sorry no food. I'm not loving France.
We continued on to Carcassonne and on the outskirts found a place that was perfect. 18€ lunch with entree, plat and dessert. Food was good and we didn't get thrown out.
Carcassonne is the first French that we found zero bike infrastructure. Maybe we were on the wrong roads but I didn't see a bike lane and there seems no good ways to get through the city.
It was pretty scary getting through Carcassonne and as we left town we had to cross about 5 freeway entrances. Back on the rough canal path was a relief. A bumpy relief.
Our place for the night was a few kilometers off the route and it was good to reach it. It's vacation condos or timeshare type place. Very nice and we have a big room with a patio.
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