We have already been impatiently waiting for several months for the opening of the “SO Vélo” in its entirety! This new greenway linking Marmande to Pindères in the Landes, crossing landscapes of agricultural plains then Landes forest, overlooking the Garonne then the canal, linking the pretty tomato town (Alias Marmande) and the spa town of Casteljaloux already has everything a big one!
I was able to do the linear solo en skateboard and, on another occasion, as a tribe with my 2 little ones by bike !
For my first bike ride (27 km one way, more than 50 km round trips and not even any aches!) I started from the Filhole plain.
The site is ideal for park (I put my little queen on the bike rack to get there from home), go to the toilet if necessary or even refuel in the town center of Marmande before heading out for the day!
Equipped with a helmet, a bottle of water and a lot of energy, so here I go 2 hours 15 minutes of cycling (one way!). From the Plaine de la Filhole car park, I take the direction path of the Rock, site on shared path for approximately 2.5 km, to reach the departure of the So Vélo situated path of Thivras (for those who wish to go there directly by car, there is also a small car park at the start of the route).
La So Bike starts strong: after passing a first bridge painted green (which gives the color to this nature route), I cross the magnificent stone bridge overlooking Garonne. The view is beautiful ! Barely left, and here I am already stopping to take a few photos of Dame Garonne and its landscapes. Without forgetting the little photo of the two flags flying in the air at the start of the bridge. The eyes drawn by the artist Marianne PLO seem to cast a benevolent gaze on my passage.
The rest of the route is very nice, the route overlooks gravel pits (some of which are still active) with stretches turquoise waters, I pass over bridges bright and cheerful colors giving this route a pop and summer aspect. Comes next crossing the canal via a magnificent metal bridge painted bright red and on which was installed a mirrored work by the artist Line BOURDOISEAU.
This was not my objective for the day but for those who wish, it is a few meters from the bridge that it is possible to reach the canal des deux-mers greenway by bike (take the road for 700 meters – watch out for vehicles on this section). You can then head towards the pretty village of Meilhan sur Garonne or, going in the other direction, go towards the Pont des sables nautical stop (and its many water activities) then to the charming village of Mas d'Agenais which houses in its collegiate church a famous painting by Rembrandt.
Let's go back to the SO Bike. Once past the commune of Montpouillan (and the canal therefore), I continue quietly until the rest area of samazan. I sit on a picnic table for 10 minutes to drink a little and enjoy the bamboo work made on site by Julien MOUROUX (All the works on the route were produced as part of an artistic project carried out by Val de Garonne Agglomération and the community of communes of Coteaux et Landes de Gascogne). A family also took advantage of the place to take a short break with two young apprentice cyclists who took advantage of the different modules of the game on site (the latter is in the form of a locomotive - certainly a nod to the history of the route, former railway).
I continue my sporting morning until Pinderes and thus crosses the beginning of the Landes forest and its majestic pines. On the route, I find new artistic works and some rest areas, notably that of Keyboard particularly well appointed. At the end of the route, I come across a few cyclists from Center park of the Domaine des Landes de Gascogne (holidaymakers are recognizable thanks to their site bracelet!). I finalize the itinerary at clarens lake where I take advantage of the site for a refreshing swim followed by a hazelnut/fig ice cream at the Uncle dad located by the lake during the summer season (the best ice creams in the area in my opinion!)
After 2 hours of relaxation, it is time for me to make the return trip. The route is the same and yet I have another vision of the linear. The So Vélo definitely lives up to its name: a sample of the South West available to everyone!
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