FARM HOUSE STAY Our next accommodation was a beautifully converted farm house in La Vallee which was ideally positioned to visit La Rochelle , Saintes and Ile d ’ Oleron on the loop ride which we did on the following day where we enjoyed an amazing lunch at a restaurant whose owner was also a great fan of the All Blacks . On our first night in La Vallee , we experienced the most exquisite meal at a restaurant suggested by our host which turned out to be a 20 minute ride through the wheatfield-filled countryside bringing us to a resort boasting fivestar cuisine . The set five-course menu was only € 34 per head , which after only spending € 3 for our breakfast that morning and a further € 20 for lunch , was well within our budget of € 70 or NZ $ 125 per person or per couple . Yes , you read that correctly , in Europe it is quite acceptable to order ‘ partager ’ ( sharing ) as the meals are often very big and designed for sharing . Another great way to save money when travelling .
MIDDLE AGES Our next two-night stopover was located in the heart of historic Sarlat-la-Canéda , in the Dordogne region . The house dated from the Middle Ages and was renovated in 2020 exposing the stone , beams and parquet floors , and sat alongside the St Sacerdos Cathedral and town square . You may be wondering where we park bikes in these narrow streets ; well all part of the planning is asking that question of the host before booking and in this case our host offered us his locked garage directly below the accommodation . I must admit that we did cause somewhat of a spectacle riding our eight bikes through the centre of this historical town , in the middle of the afternoon when the square was full of outside diners and being led down the pathway by a , let ’ s say , dubious young man who had approached us offering help . So , we were led down the road by this hombre giving anyone looking in our direction the “ don ’ t mess with
68 KIWI RIDER