A ridge-road south and west of Conques, between the valleys of the Lot and the Aveyron; looking toward the south on a fine, clear day. On the pine tree at right can be seen the way-mark for GR 65.

f 50 was worth celebrating with an extended bike trip, then 55 must be even more worthy of celebration.The world is wide, but whenever I think of an extended bike trip, I first think of France. Therefor in September of 2009 I flew to Paris, and the next day took the late afternoon train to Le Puy en Velay, arriving after dark and cycling through deserted streets to the gite in which I'd booked a bed for the night: the Maison St. François, a gite d'étape run by the Catholic church.

I had planned to write up that 2009 bike trip here, but for one reason or another, that still hasn't happened! Now that I'm retired, perhaps...