The next morning, we wandered the entire circumference of the lake, via a man-made path. In fact, the local authority have created a pleasant little resort, featuring some lakeside chalets, a “pool area” that is part of the lake, with giant water slides, and fishing points dotted all around. It was a nice, peaceful place to spend some time. We were also pleased to find Motorhome facilities here, and I topped up our water supplies, whilst being harangued by some strange, incredibly old yet kindly foreign woman who insisted on smiling at me despite the fact that I maintained I couldn’t understand a word she was saying to me in her friendly, albeit slightly spooky way. Moving ever northwards, we found ourselves arriving at the confluence of two great rivers, The Tarn and the Garonne. Miki was shocked to discover that La Garonne actually originates in Spain, and travels forty kilometres through the Pyrenees before claiming French citizenship. A rare warlike mood overcame her as she threatened to commence hostilities with Spain to claim the offending territory that spawns La Garonne for La France. (Well, I guess people have started wars for less.)
Anyway, we settled down here for the rest of the day (and night) the scenery here being wonderful, and we got the bikes down for the first time on the trip and went for a ride around the lakeshore that the meeting of these two waterways creates. The cycle tracks meandered in and out of the trees, flirting with the shoreline, we persevered for a few kilometres before retracing our steps and heading back.
Returning to the Boomobile, we found ourselves under observation by a pack of Donkeys, who wandered languidly over to see who was invading their turf. We remained there in the car park for the night, A nice dinner, some telly, and a chat about the day. Great days indeed, as somebody once said.
17.10.2007 - Afterword
I recently wrote to the office of tourism in Samatan to tell them about this article. I just received a reply, containing their tahnks for the kind words and... ironically... informing me that there has been "a little change" in their camping car area... it is no longer free, but 3€ a day!
Text by Kev Moore
Drawing & Photos by Miki
Both on Planet Goodaboom
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