Country people in the rural France:
Montaigu du Quercy
a small town situated in the North of the Tarn and Garonne area South-West of France
And a passion for a motorized bicycle
We spent 3 nights at Colette and Yves place, then therefore we left Auch city for Montaigu du Quercy, a small town, located in the Tarn et Garonne Department. This village is about two hour drive from Auch, where our son Vinh (born in Auch) lives as a blacksmith specializing in the manufacture of Vietnamese knives.
On June 2014, he moved from Barre des Cévennes to Montaigu de Quercy.
See : Forge de caractère
http://3kgsousterre.blogspot.fr/
www.forgedecaractere.fr
Photo Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vinhlecao/
In summory, we enjoy a short stay in this well-known area for its gastronomy and it quiet lifestyle: foie gras, truffles, Agen’s dried prunes and Armagnac
Montaigu du Quercy, with its narrow and sloped streets, was built on the top of the hills. In accordance with the conception of that time, its church was built right of the peak, overlooking the lower part that is developed over time
Montaigudu Quercy : 1,400 permanent inhabitants as recorded in 2012.
The Tarn-et-Garonne is a largely agricultural area and produces 80% of the Midi-Pyrénées fruit ; about 300 000 tonnes in 2012.
In this district, we came across a good number of British residents and tourists.
The reason :
It is located near the La Dordogne-Le Périgord Region which since the 1990s has attracted a number of celebrities including some Britons:
For instance
Patricia Atkinson, a former British supermodel, who knew nothing about the wine. She left everything to buy the vineyard of Clos d'Yvigne in Gageac-Rouillac. The books she wrote about her life in the vineyards "Grapes of Happiness" and "Summer" have become bestsellers
In 2012, the Fleming family suggested to William Boyd to write the next series of the adventures of James Bond. However, the writer, screenwriter and director ( film maker) had been attracted before by the call of the vineyard in the Bergerac. In 1995, he bought a vineyard in Pomport. Now a Cabernet Sauvignon called "Castle Pécachard" matures every year in his cellar.
Also, British journalist and writer, Martin Walker has a house in the region Bugue. He is the author of numerous essays and the police series Bruno, Chief of Police, which takes place in the Perigord.
The attraction that the Dordogne-Périgord region has on certain subjects of Her Majesty was such that some Britons began to come to visit and enjoy the local cuisine and the lifestyle of this country. Others had finally invested in the purchase of second homes. And the low-cost Ryanair, and Flybe have opened direct flights (once or twice per week) between Bergerac, Perigueux and Southampton, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh .etc.
In the recent past, some British citizens, now probably naturalized French citizens, were elected councilors
Now back to Montaigu de Quercy
Like many medieval villages, towns and cities in Europe, Montaigu is comprised of a high part with its church on the top, narrow and gently sloped streets and the lower town crossed by traffic routes. 
The distinctive feature of the church built between 1890-1905: from the lower part of town, this neo-gothic Catholic Church seems to be an ordinary religious edifice.
But in front of the church, we notice that the tower which allows believers, and visitors to enter into the church, and the nave do not form a straight line.
Otherwise, like several towns or villages, a small weekly producer market (vegetable growers, artisan bakers, pork butcher, butcher, craftmen, jewellers: amateur or detail retailers) is held every Wednesday morning.
Such as the Saturday morning producer market in Clarens
A part from that, there is any interesting facts to notice.
A passion for the motorized bicycle “Little Queen”
(a bicycle= la petite Reine in French)
A Solex restoration workshop
Mr. André BLANC: 82 years old, a retired farmer who has one hobby: Restoring the old Solex bicycles We met André during a walk around Montaigu
Sources: Wikipedia
The VéloSoleX (trademark), more commonly known as Solex, is a moped with an engine was created by the French company Solex. It was produced over seven million, in several models, from 1946 to 1988.
As a moped, it could drive without a license and in France from the age of 14. Light, rustic and economic, (Andre estimates that the Solex consumes 1L of petrol /100km): "The bicycle that rolls by itself" (as a SoleX slogan of the 1950s) has been very popular among high school students, students and workers. It was a sort of the Citroen 2CV car: rugged, heavy-duty and economic car in the 1950s-1980s
An old Citroen 2CV car at “vide grenier “day
An old CITROEN 2CV (1973) being under the good conditions, parked in front of Barre-des-Cévennes Librairy
The production started first in Courbevoie then in two other plants located in Asnières and Macon. On 1975, after the acquisition of the SoleX Make by Motobécane, only the Saint-Quentin’s plant produced all models. The brand also produces bicycles in the early 1970s
An attempt to relaunch SoleX motor bike took place in Hungary 1998-2002
In 2006 the SoleX with its authentic mecanismes was taken over by Pininfarina, who designed an electric moped, has established a factory in China to manufacture it.
Jacques Sternberg, in his book Living in Survivor: resignation, démerde (ressourcefulness, smartness) , drift (illustrated by Gourmelin), made a praise of VéloSoleX, and emphazised the contrast to the big motobikes on all points:
* Its engine (45cc passes in 1946 to 49.99 in 1955 cc) when the motor operates normally, is particularly quiet, allowing the biker to hear the sounds of the countryside and birdsong.
* The speed limit of 30-35 km / h allows the biker to enjoy quietly the scenery and to feel the breeze: no leather outfit which insulates from the rest of the world.
* The biker can "help" the motor by pedaling when he (her) is approaching the top of a hill
* In case of failure, while the motorbiker is blocked, the owner of VéloSoleX quietly raised its engine and uses his vehicle as a simple bicycle. (source: Wikipedia)
In André’s workshop
Motors to restore 
In the background, two mopeds Motobécane awaiting to be repaired by André
Two genuine panniers
A Blue SoleX, whereas, in the 1950s-1970s, the SoleX were usually painted black. And a rear wheel from a wast collection centre,
A Red, White and Blue SoleX, S 3800 model, designed for Lady !!
Where does André procure old SoleX and spare parts?
André gets them from flea markets, from “day sale” (called “journée de vide grenier” (=to empty, to clear out the attics where people store all unused and old items) usually organized in summer by several municipalities
During this one day market, any citizen can be improvised as shopkeepers.
As is in the summer French tradition.
A “vide grenier” day in Balsiège village, next to medieval Mende City
André can also buy spare parts from the “SoleX Fans Club” network, and order online from a factory located in China and some Asian subcontractors
André showing to Betty a tire « Made in Viet Nam ».
And he confirms that some spares have not been manufactured since the 1950s-1980s.
Drying in process
Mounting this SoleX brings me back to the 1964-1969 period 
I am neither Jacques TATI, in his film “Mon Oncle” (My Uncle 1955), driving his SoleX in Paris nor
Robert Redford in “Three Days of the Condor”
(Sydney Pollack 1975)
André can sell around 3 or 4 restored SoleX per year. The prices range from 150 Euros to 300 euros.
“It does not make my fortune”, as these sales do not feed properly the handyman.
Here is « To live on love alone" (« C’est de l’amour et de l’eau fraîche ») André insists philosophically
Despite his avanced old age, André is completely spry and alert. This interest keeps him in great shape, one ca n say!!
This SoleX is ready to be delivered.
Recently, according to the law as it stands, the SoleX has to be registered
like any big motor bike as a Harley Davidson
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