Carcassonne, France

This morning the sun filtered through the trees. Leaves of yellow and russet quivered in the breeze from the mistral which in turned chased clouds across the open fields. Shuttered windows of peeling paint, only adding to their charm, opened. Yesterday evening when we arrived at the canal, an elderly local gentleman asked John to sit beside him on the bench seat in front of Marge, exclaiming in French, that we understood, that the view was nice. We couldn't disagree. language is no barrier we've discovered on our travels. John and the man both sat and took in the scene unfolding before them. This was 'real' France. This was the France we loved. This was the France we had cycled many times. Words were not required to enjoy this moment.

A young magpie joined us for breakfast. We couldn't decide if it didn't really know how to fend for itself or not. Its behaviour was most peculiar. It was more interested in pecking at all things plastic, than the crumbs we offered it. It found Angela's notepad particularly tasty. Enough was enough! She's very protective of her words of wisdom and it was shooed away. Mid morning we left the magpie pecking away at the plastic roof vent on the motorhome next to us. Perhaps it was on a mission to make us aware of the harm single use plastics can make. We were only going a short distance today, around an hour to Carcassonne. The sun made a weak attempt to break through as we drove past fields of corduroy. The crops now harvested, the dry arid thirsty soil was churned by the farmers plough in readiness for the planting of a new crop. Although it was Sunday, and normally a good day to travel in France, we were tired and decided Carcassonne would be far enough today. We have stayed on the aire here before.

Two spaces away from Marge is an English VW transporter van in grey and orange. Alongside a toilet tent in grey and orange. The man who owns it is wearing a orange hoody and orange crocs, Come on. Now you're taking it all just a little too far.  A walk along the river and up to 'the citi' for lunch was all we had planned for today. Too many days now have been taken up with Marge's woes. Looking back yesterday evening at photographs from the first ten days of our holiday, we desperately wanted those times back again. Carefree and happy. No worries. The day has been cold. In contrast to yesterday, when it was a shorts and T-shirt afternoon, today was long trousers, jackets and scarves. At least it was dry, and we were able to enjoy our walk around the city.

The medieval city of  Carcassonne is a real tourist trap. We are in cassoulet country, and a lot of shops here were selling it.

 Buy two tins and get the earthen wear dish to cook it in free. When we buy cassoulet in the supermarket we don't skimp, always happy to pay for the more expensive tin with nicer ingredients. More importantly for a nicer Toulousain sausage to be in the tin. There was no guarantee that the tins being sold with the dish would be of that quality. We were in a tourist trap remember, the sausage was probably going to be one of those hot dog types made from some kind of slurry. Too late. Twenty-two euros paid, we'd been reeled in. We're sure the meat products will be of the highest quality! Perhaps we should have consulted trip advisor before purchasing? The earthen wear dish is nice though.

We took a quick walk out this evening to see the city lit up by floodlights.