Biking along the Canal (or walking it)

We decided to rent bikes yesterday just for a little something different.  If you've ever rented bikes before, you know that they're never perfect (too big, strange handlebars, stiff brakes, whatever).  That was yesterday's first hurdle.  Nevertheless, we all received our bikes and stepped outside the shop; that was the second hurdle. The streets are slanty and cobblestoned and narrow and trafficky and confusing and who goes first, who goes last?  We made it back home where we prepared a picnic lunch.  Feeling brave once more, we began our journey with Tamsin and I bringing up the rear.  All went well for a bit until we reached the canal and Tamsin quit.  She hated her bike; it hurt; she was hot, etc.  We walked the bikes until we found the others resting in the shade and stopped to picnic.  It was everything you'd want biking in France to be.  Light breeze, vineyards, large trees casting shade, boats lazily moving down the canal.  Really postcard-lovely.  Unfortunately, it was not to last much longer as Tamsin was pretty much done.  The others went on ahead and Tamsin and I pushed on for a bit, walking with the bikes.  It just became too hot and hard so we waited for the others to come back and find us. They continued on to the next town for ice cream and Tamsin, Alex and I went home.
Last night we celebrated 14 July with a parade, lanterns, fireworks and dancing.  I thought it was lots of fun.  We all marched around the town following a brass band and the mayor with our red, white and blue lanterns swinging.  It felt like we were part of the community.
Today we await our first visitors and the girls get to clean up and vacate their room.  I need to do some shopping.