Penguins Bike

Day 12 - A great city we'd never heard of - Narbonne, France

Sarah

July 2, 2026 - biked 13 km (8.3 mi) - biked 632 km (392 mi) total

Because the wind was so brutal yesterday, we took a surprise rest day. We'd previously asked Claude where we should spend a rest day in France, and it unexpectedly suggested Narbonne. So here we are living up its dreams. It is nice to explore a town that isn’t as well known.

We also loved our two star campsite. It was nice to stay again. We got to order chocolate croissants and baguettes in the evening to be ready in the morning.

France, similar to Spain, has 5 star campgrounds equipped with pool, water slides, restaurants, supermarkets, mini golf courses, tennis courts, cosy bungalows with everything you would find in a hotel, bike rentals, beach access, etc., all of which is too much for two bikers and a penguin.

We saw the most beautiful cathedral I’ve ever seen. We also saw these old Roman ruins underground. It served as a warehouse/market for grains. We had a great time walking around. It was nice to be tourists somewhere less touristy, but that still wanted people to visit.

Rob, our friend in Portland, told us to catch a Spain game. Even though I tried to make it happen, the schedules never lined up while we were in Spain. But this evening, we did see Spain play against Austria in a bar full of French people with only one other person watching the game. I missed all three goals scored and had the half the screen blocked by a group of guys slowly getting drunk. I guess he meant to watch Spain play in Spain.

New sunglasses.
A market that David bought two new pairs of shorts! Expect some airtime soon.
Cool drainage spout monsters on the cathedral.
Ornate organ.
When you're the priest, this is your view. Might keep you a priest.
For our loved ones that have passed.
Album cover.
Roman underground storehouse for grain and goods.
We climbed up? a "dungeon"? This word must not mean what I think it means.
View of the cathedral from the dungeon.
Best gelato thus far. Strawberry, chocolate sorbet, and something something banana. GPS loved it and continues to be a messy eater.
It was so windy our tent blew away but some nice strangers tamped it down using our panniers. We need to carry a hammer for the stakes.
Biking back into town to see the world cup.
Cathedral money shot.