Hi Les

You could get the Eurostar to Lille and then a TGV connection south to Bordeaux - you don't have to go through Paris.

If driving, there is long-stay car parking at the airport in Merignac.
Alternatively I've generally found  most hotels OK about leaving a car in a car park as long as you're staying there a night etc at the start of a trip. There's sometimes a small charge (offering to pay one helps).
 
Cheers
Lyn @ FF

Sorry Les, can't help with the query ( but looks like you had a good answer already) but just checking that you know there is a good guide to the Bordeaux to Toulouse bit- in French but V useful " Bordeaux - Toulouse a velo" and I understand there is a similar one for the Toulouse to Med bit. I did Toulouse to Bordeaux in May-3 days easy ( and I'm 67),but that did not allow much sightseeing on the way. Guides available from www.cartovelo.fr

Sorry if you knew this already.

Keith

 

 

Thanks both. All info is useful. Any hotels with car parking recommended? 

You could try any of the ones around the airport as they all have parking.
You can do a search here:
http://www.freewheelingfrance.com/books-tours-and-travel/book-accommodation.html

The Accor chain hotels are usually pretty good. A bit soulless but functional and generally cheap enough to crash in for a night.

In the centre of town, the Adagio Apart-hotel has a car park underneath – you could try them. That would also give you the chance to explore the city (and have a leisurely ride along the riverfront).

Any of the hotels around Meriadeck are also central, and some of those would have parking.

II live in France and met some English guys who got a bus from london with their bikes in a bike trailer towed behind the bus they were taken to Bordeaux and picked up a week later at Narbonne on the canal du midi. Did the cannal From bordeaux to Sete last May fantastic. If you need any help get in touch . Barbie

Just returned from fantastic trip cycle camping from Bordeaux to Toulouse. The solution to my parking problem was to contact Camping Bel Air (not much English) at Sadirac near Creon who are experts at accommodating cars whilst people do the Entrte Deux Mers route. At a cost of 2 euros 20  a night this is excellent value. It id a very good campsite with lovely pool to sooth those tired muscles and a good bar/restaurant. Too many highlights to mention except seeing Wiggo in yellow crossing the Canal du Garonne at Castellsarrasin the day Cav won oin Brive... Gooosebumps of excitement in the telling! 

Hi Les
Thanks heaps for the update.
Glad you had a great trip and very jealous re those goosebumps.
Lyn.

Hi all, new to freewheeling France and coming late to this thread, however, my wife and I are planning to cycle from Bordeaux to Sete this coming September via the Canal du Midi. It has just come to my attention that one needs to get a permit from the French Canal Authority to cycle along the canals in France. Can anyone fill me in regarding this?

Thanks,
Wiley

Hi Wiley

Tim at Relax Rentals, which hires bikes along the canal, has contacted the Canal Authority locally, and it seems the permits are not really required (they don't check them, apparently).

I have to say I have never heard of anyone bothering to get a permit, and have never heard of anyone being asked for one.

Cheers
Lyn.

And this from Gerry via Facebook:

"Hi, We lived on, and cruised the French
canals (cycling as much as we cruised) We were fully legal for the
waterways... never came across the need for specific cycling
permit..... There are many sections where you are better off cycling
on adjacent roads though!"