The Sing-a-Long Blues Blog

Do you have your Gene Kelly impersonation ready? ... your top hat, tap shoes and umbrella? Then do indulge my silliness and join me in that popular, if slightly adulterated, refrain.

“We’re riding in the rain, Yes we’re riding in the rain

What a horrible feeling to be riding in the rain”

Albi in the rain

Have we had weather for the month of May in south western France! We have been just a little stressed and have not had time to consider much of anything else.

Have any of you asked Minas the question, “What if it rains on your biking holiday?” And have you heard him answer, “Oh we don’t bike in the rain and we don’t bike in the cold, we take a taxi.”   WRONG!! 

riding the corniche road of the Gorges de l'Aveyron

We have biked in the rain (many days) and in the cold (two degrees Celsius at the top of a col) and the wind (howling) and the fog (couldn’t even see Minas in front of me). Most of those days all I wanted was a hot bath at the end of the day, nap and a good dinner. Thankfully I usually had all of these.

Gorges de l.Aveyron

And do you remember that I said that I wasn't doing mountains anymore.  Well.... I am doing mountains  ... in the rain.

Gorges de l'Ardeche

And although you have to concentrate a little more when the weather is bad, there is still plenty of time for thinking. To stop from “feeling sorry for myself” I think about all of you, especially the six grand-children; my garden; the books I’ve read; and my wonderful home.

On a bad weather day, I am the veritable pollyannish Julie Andrews singing…  (you can sing along here too)

”When the rain falls; when the wind howls – when I’m feeling sad

I simply remember my favourite things and then I don’t feel so bad”

So, in this blog, I am sharing with you some of the pictures of some of my favourite things about our biking trip so far.  

poppies in a field of grain

French bistro sets on gravel patios

finding a bike path when it is raining

medieval buildings even in the rain

the formal gardens of a chateau

staying in interesting places - Chateau Montcuquet

old stones and flowers

scenic French villages

slate roofs on old stone houses

being in a city for a day off when it rains

joining the French for lunch in a bistro on a rainy day

a chance to enjoy the scenery in the sunshine: bridge at Belcastel

And here are some of the things that Minas loves.....

the mountains

 

Gorges de l.Ardeche

his sweets

a chance to bike in the sunshine

But we are safe, despite the weather, as there is Someone on high who is looking after us and who sends guardian angels when we most need them but those are stories for another time.

Thank you for your indulgence. You know the old adage. “If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry”