Le Canal Du Midi

I'm half-way through my bikeride to the Mediterranean!  My first day's ride was wonderful-- through fields, past châteaus, along the tree-lined canal.  In summer, the fields are full of lavender and sunflowers, but now they are being plowed for winter. I veered off the trail every time a distant cluster of stone buildings caught my eye, which was often-- there are countless hilltop villages, each with quaint, rural charm.  The steeples of the gothic churches, at the highest point in each village, were visible for miles.  So I took my time and putted around these villages before arriving in Castelnaudary...

 My first night was spent at the étrier du Lauragais-- a horseback riding establishment where I slept in a room above the stables.  I counted 15+ horses and 20 ponies!  I ate "cassoulet," a famous French dish that originated in Castelnaudary and is the town's main claim to fame.  It's a hot casserole of beans, sausage, duck, pork, pepper-- very hearty. 

A second day of riding brought me through more countryside, with vineyards replacing the plowed fields.  Entering wine country! And I can see the Pyrenees to the south!  I arrived in Carcassonne, a Medieval fortified city-- straight out of a fairytale. It's also my first couchsurfing experience!  I'm staying at a middle-aged guy's house with two Polish girls my age (other couchsurfers that are hitch-hiking around France!); not only is the couch free, but Philippe is feeding us great meals! With wine, of course.

The weather: incredible wind.  It nearly pushes my bike off the road at times, which explains why windmills dot the horizon.  But it's not raining, so I'm not complaining.  The riding is easy: since it's a canal, it is relatively flat, but the weight of my bags makes even the slightest incline a little strenuous.  After the first day, my legs were tired, but not nearly exhausted.  It was my butt that was really screaming to get off the bike.

I'll leave Carcassonne tomorrow morning and head southeast-- two more days of riding should get me to the Mediterranean!  With lots to see along the way!