Thursday September 15, 2005, 90 km (56 miles) – Total so far: 10,152 km (6,308 miles)

We really enjoyed today’s ride up into the Pyrénées. We followed the Aude river again through the charming Limoux then up to Quillan where we left the river and climbed to the Plateau de Sault. Belcaire is at the end of the plateau and is the last town before the three cols that will take us down to Ax-les-Thermes and ultimately out of France and into Andorra.

We are staying in the Hotel Bayle at 1000m in Belcaire. Initially, we were attracted by the cheap rooms for €€20 but we have opted for demi-pension at €€31 each which includes our evening meal plus breakfast. It seems like an exceptionally good deal, but we’ve no idea what the food’s going to be like.

Carcassonne

Leaving Limoux

We followed the Aude River south from Limoux

The tree lined road to Quillan

The Plateau de Sault

The misty Pyrénées, our next mountain range

They produce donkey milk in the Pyrénées, no joke

Hotel Bayle in Belcaire