The bike ride from Trèbes to Lézignan-Corbieres wasn't that far but the trail or path is terrible. Many of the plain trees are sick with a fungus brought over by us troops in ww2, they are dying and have been removed. There are miles of narrow trail (in some places less than 10 inches across and very rutted by bikes and foot traffic), much of it hard packed clay dirt crossed with sharp and pebble rocks PLUS the remaining roots of the now gone trees. In many places the grass was over our heads. We took some pictures and video ( when it was possible to ride with one hand). Hot too in the low 90s. Any way we got here and rested a day then rented a car. A little fiat. This area is packed with history an ruins of castle fortresses, abbeys and chateaus and old stone villages in the mountains. Yesterday we visited Fabrezan, Tèmes (a hot hike to a small mountain top from a beautiful valley village) and finally Villerouge Termenes. Today we head out again. Chateau Termes was first made mention of in something like 950. Catholic crusaders seized it and took it over because the nobles supported catharsis, Cathars practiced a different flavor of Christianity and were critical of the wealth and power and abuse of authority that the Catholic priests exercised over people.
This is wine and Cathar country. The mountains remind me of a cross between eastern wa and New Mexico. It isn't so high though. Doug is a brave driving fiend. He has taken us down some very tiny streets and backed up a few, patiently while getting chewed out for going the wrong way. I praise him a lot in the hopes I can get out of driving .... Big smile here. I recommend looking up the history of the cathars and Catholics here. Hope you are all well!
