Day 7 - Agen > Bordeaux (100 km)

Refreshed by our day off, we put our bikes back on early with the aim of pedalling 100 kilometres through the Lot-et-Garonne region.

For once, all the conditions seemed favourable. The heat had died down, there was a gentle breeze to support our efforts, and the track was perfectly surfaced. On leaving Agen, the canal spans the Garonne thanks to an impressive ashlar bridge-canal, inaugurated in 1849. It is the second longest structure of its kind in France (559 m) behind the Briare canal bridge over the Loire.

The landscape before us is similar to that of the Canal du Midi. Patelins, plane trees and barges go by. Once a key communications route, the Canal Latéral à la Garonne is now used only for pleasure boating.

At the hottest times of the day, we take refuge in the Bistro de la Halle, in Mas d'Agenais. In the shade of a 17th-century corn market built with imposing beams salvaged from the neighbouring château, we savoured the authentic pleasure of a gourmet menu served with a smile. A jug of local wine relaxes our aching muscles. The Mille Bornes is out and all bets are off.

A few dozen kilometres later, we reach Langon, on the edge of the Graves vineyards and the Landes forest, the gateway to the ocean. A train takes us to Bordeaux, where our friends Wandrille and Mappy are waiting for us.

It took four days to reach the Gironde from the Mediterranean via the impressive Canal des Deux-Mers. None of us were familiar with this route, which is a must for cycle tourists, and we have to admit that its reputation is well deserved. The low gradient (246 metres for the Canal du Midi, 128 metres for the Canal Latéral), the shade of the plane trees, the quality of the cycling infrastructure and the beauty of the scenery make these routes perfect for both sporty and family cycling. The stages can be adjusted to suit your level of tiredness and your desires, and the rail network means that certain sections can be shortened if necessary. With 823 kilometres on the clock, we're getting closer to our goal. Let's make way for the sea spray and the beaches of the Atlantic.

Paulette is a network of bicycle agencies. You can find us on the Canal de Nantes à Brest, the Loire à vélo, the Vélodyssée, the Canal latéral à la Garonne, the Méditerranée à vélo and the Canal du Midi in Nantes, La Rochelle, Royan, Bordeaux, Sète, Béziers, Narbonne, Carcassonne, Lyon, Arles, Mâcon and Toulouse.

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