140 km
The morning started cloudy but during the day the sun came and apart from some tiny raindrops it remained dry. There was a rather tough wind from the northwest and that meant for me in my back. After 6 km I was on a piste cyclable near the Canal du Midi in Gardouch. In Naurouze after some 12 km the signs for the cyclists disappeared. I tried to use the footpath, but it was rather narrow and after 2 km I switched to minor roads and used the Garmin to lead me to the start of the next part marked as cycle path in Castelnaudary. Now I saw some signs for a cycle route no. 2, but without indication of a destination village. In Castelnaudary was a series of locks and the bridleway was good for cycling. But also this stopped after some kilometers and all the way to Carcassonne the bridleway was in a bad condition due to the roots of trees that made the path rough.
On this path I had my first flat tire (it was the tire of the Extrawheel. After repairing it I continued to Carcassonne, still using the bridleway. In Trèbes I switched to one of the tracks and used a smaller departmental street, but there was quite a lot of car traffic on it. In Pouzols I went to a camping Les Auberges (two stars). I tried to get the pins of my tent into the ground, but after a while I gave up, packed my things and asked my money back. Then I cycled to the next camping in Mirepeisset.The reception was closed already and I asked at the camping bar. Oh we are full and very expensive. Now I started to look for a suitable place in the wild.
But before I had a last look on my map and saw a 3rd camping in the neighborhood. That was my last try. It was a camping municipal with old, but sufficient infrastructure. Just before darkness my tent was set up.
Paul
The morning started cloudy but during the day the sun came and apart from some tiny raindrops it remained dry. There was a rather tough wind from the northwest and that meant for me in my back. After 6 km I was on a piste cyclable near the Canal du Midi in Gardouch. In Naurouze after some 12 km the signs for the cyclists disappeared. I tried to use the footpath, but it was rather narrow and after 2 km I switched to minor roads and used the Garmin to lead me to the start of the next part marked as cycle path in Castelnaudary. Now I saw some signs for a cycle route no. 2, but without indication of a destination village. In Castelnaudary was a series of locks and the bridleway was good for cycling. But also this stopped after some kilometers and all the way to Carcassonne the bridleway was in a bad condition due to the roots of trees that made the path rough.
On this path I had my first flat tire (it was the tire of the Extrawheel. After repairing it I continued to Carcassonne, still using the bridleway. In Trèbes I switched to one of the tracks and used a smaller departmental street, but there was quite a lot of car traffic on it. In Pouzols I went to a camping Les Auberges (two stars). I tried to get the pins of my tent into the ground, but after a while I gave up, packed my things and asked my money back. Then I cycled to the next camping in Mirepeisset.The reception was closed already and I asked at the camping bar. Oh we are full and very expensive. Now I started to look for a suitable place in the wild.
But before I had a last look on my map and saw a 3rd camping in the neighborhood. That was my last try. It was a camping municipal with old, but sufficient infrastructure. Just before darkness my tent was set up.
Paul
