31 July leaving Mezanet

Pleased to do so after a poor breakfast and into a grey sky with some light drizzle. But never mind not too many bad days on a bike but this was to be a cracker. Over the pass behind the town in the light light drizzle, just enough to annoy. So over the pass at 700m and on to Carcasson and Limoux, easy riding and pleasant. Weather getting better at least warmer than 15.5 when I started. Enjoyed a coffee and wine and a pastry at Limoux which was pretty good after a bread roll for brekky. More good country road and some to lanes followed to Quillan where I found a Rugby player with a restaurant ( he had Dan Carter sign his jersey). He had a pub in Perpignan where Mr Carter plays now.So that was good but I left town and found the D109. A road through the hills.....and what a road.....no pegs no lines no rails no signs, no cars, pure country joy with the grass to the edges. What a ride. That went over a pass and then down to the plains and what a sight into the Maury river valley and wine growing region. Just a delight. The rest was easy. Perpignan motorway and then Collioure........I was gobsmacked. The chap in the rugby shop said I must come and I have been to Monaco but this is better. Little village on the hillsides and the prettiest beach and wharf area imaginable. Just wonderful. Even got to see a long boat on the canal go through a lock, even better it was a double. So I covered all bases today. Then I got lucky with a room in a waterfront hotel needless to say I do not get a view for 45E but it is good. So good I had a walk through the town. There was a fortification on the waterfront (now a Hotel) and indulged myself with a swim. That was a pretty good day. Now for dinner. Well that was fun....a thunderstorm came through. The walls (plastic ones) were lowered the gutters filled and the restaurant was swamped. The guests mostly were amused but I doubt the management were. It was chaos.(No pictures of that).