On Thursday, the 29th of September, we rode up the Rhône on the right bank and crossed into the wine country of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of the most famous labels in French enology. It was one of the initial ten appellations authorized when the AOC rules were first established in 1923, ending centuries of confusion, fraud, and abuse. The story makes for interesting reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teauneuf-du-Pape_AOC. Continue reading
This week, I invite you to enjoy a new short story from the world of Lockhart on my author’s blog.
Next week, come back as we spend two weeks in Provence.
Smooth roads and tailwinds,
JT
Chasselas festival at Moissac
On Sunday, the 17th of September, we watched the rain slide off the windows of the train as we sped west towards Bordeaux. Whilst the train carried us more or less down the Garonne River, the rain stopped, though the clouds remained. We spent the night in the HI Hostel near the Gare Saint-Jean in Bordeaux. Continue reading
This week, I invite you to enjoy a new short story from the world of Emily & Hilda on my author’s blog.
Next week, come back as we ride the last two rivers of the River Run 2017 tour: the Garonne and the Rhône.
Smooth roads and tailwinds,
JT
On Tuesday, 29 August, we took a moment to visit the old church and cloister at Saint-Lizier, before setting out for Tarascon-sur-Ariège, our destination for that night. 
Cheryl wanted to ride the King’s Highway (D618) over another series of beautiful cols to Tarascon-sur-Ariège, but I saw a major bicycle route on my OSMand software, so when she left me behind on the way to Saint-Girons, I decided to play hooky. Continue reading
This week, I invite you to enjoy a new short story from the world of Emily & Hilda on my author’s blog.
Next week, come back as we ride across the Languedoc region of southwest France.
Smooth roads and tailwinds,
JT
Having reconnoitered the airport and purchased the bus tickets to get Cheryl and her bike to Bordeaux, on Tuesday, 15 August, I met her flight from Paris. 
After an initial warm reunion, we stood by the carousel in Baggage Claim until it was clear that neither her bags nor her bicycle were on the aircraft. The Baggage Claim office confirmed that they had been left in Paris, and assured us that they would be delivered the next day. We took the tram back to town, walked to the Garonne River and enjoyed an organ recital at the Cathedral. Continue reading
This week, I invite you to enjoy a new short story from the world of Emily & Hilda on my author’s blog.
Next week, come back as we climb the Pyrenées in France.
Smooth roads and tailwinds,
JT
On Thursday, the last day of July, I struck out across the industrial port of Brest, heading for the Atlantic Coast. After the rain of the last two weeks, the warmth of the sun on my skin and the brilliance of the blue sky felt strange. I was so happy to be riding again. Fortified with breakfast (and a packed lunch) from an artisan boulangerie just before leaving the warehouse district, I followed the Eurovelo 1 bike route down the coast. Continue reading
This week, I invite you to enjoy a new short story from the world of Emily & Hilda on my author’s blog.
Next week, come back as we continue along the Atlantic coast of France.
Smooth roads and tailwinds,
JT
The Freewheeling Freelancer 