Incredible meeting with the organizer of the carriolades

Let's go to the source of the information in the stronghold of the Ducassé, a family present since the 6th century on the plateau and hamlet of Naver.

Brice, as usual, decides to take on the mental burden, then quickly gets rid of it out of “kindness”, leaving it to Punita to safely return to a place that she discovers….

Valentin (running after a chicken) : Come here little coyote of misfortune!!!!

Brice (third dan of crooked leg) sets a pedestrian trap for our fleeing hen, misses her but proves to Valentin that it works….

Punita : Ouchjour

valentine : Ouchjour

Brice :Damn! I'm confused…. The intention was completely different! But we're not going to get upset about it, hehe... So you're in great shape, how are the Carriolades shaping up?

Valentin (standing) : Without any measure with your arrival, I understand, everything is calculated, measured, we want no mishaps. I am well placed to know, the ground is hard. So I made a decision to reassure us all, there will be barriers all along the route, like that, zero hassle, zero chatter...

Punita (pointing to the door of Valentin's) : Isn't it warmer there, next to your coffee maker?

Valentin (inviting our two affreulytes to sit down) : Building on our very warm welcome in 2023, we are continuing with as much, if not more, desire and project management. There is no stress only pleasure and also the search for novelty.

Brice : Where would we be without the new?… Always 8 or 10!

Valentin (imperturbable, despite Brice's grimaces): The Covid had stopped this party in its tracks. It was impossible for me to imagine this going away for good, so we rolled up our sleeves and worked together to put the boat back afloat.

Punita : I love metaphors, and to think that they can be 2000 years old and still be intact!

Brice : Did you find any here?

Valentin (disconcerted) : Roman remains, AMPHORA, Merovingian, etc… we are on an archaeological scene here. We are proud to live in this beautiful, preserved and centuries-old setting. My attachment to the family Hameau is not unrelated to my desire to relaunch the Carriolades in 2023. As a result of thousands of spectators and vehicles, each more eccentric than the last, we can't wait to discover the 2024 vintage!

Brice : However, I understood that it was a soap box race, is it really a case of wine?

valentine : Your first idea was right, they are soap boxes. A desire of my own because I wanted to be affiliated with the French Soap Box Federation. This provides a framework, insurance coverage and also team support. The South-West Committee, with whom I am often in contact, announced to me 7 or 8 “funds” just through them!

Brice : If you have prices, I'm interested!

Punita (lucid) : Great news, so already a nice positive side for participants. And what will the others, the spectators, do during this day?

Valentin (extralucid) : I see... I see... a... families, single people, couples, a colorful crowd coming in the morning. They participate in the hike which leaves for 9 hours under the aegis of the “A l’air libre” association. There are… producers! What we encounter throughout the walk is, it's a gourmet hike! All these beautiful people will meet at 11 a.m., yes that's it 11 a.m., on the Bastion promenade where a small Gourmet Market will share the space with the presentation of the vehicles.

Brice : waaaaaaah this is crazy you read the future, continue and then!?

Valentine (extra) : Maybe I'm planning a meal for lunch on Saturday, that's still to be defined. In any case, hostilities will begin at 17 p.m. For 2 hours, the carts, soap boxes, interstellar cruisers will follow one another one by one, timed and judged on their design. A quad battery will bring each competitor back to the starting line for the following rounds.

Punita (too proud) :M! M! HAS !

Brice : And when do we eat in this country?!

valentine : Just by following the race we award the prizes: time, design, handyman (for those whose soapbox has lost all dignity). Finally comes a part that we also care about, the big party. A big outdoor meal and music will entertain and relax the crews, mechanics and especially the supporters! All this beautiful day with a dense program comes the day after the Melon Festival. Friday the 16th for the fruit festival in question and we on Saturday August 17th let the cars go.

Punita : Since the beginning of our exchange, I have heard “we”, “I” and even “we”, are you experiencing a dissociation of identity?

valentine : At all, but fortunately I can count on a superb team of volunteers and intelligent collaborations: The Bizot family, Hélène and Didier who are struggling, the AGV, the Air Libre association, and all the non- cities that will be angry with me, a good 40 essential ants!!

Punita : The strength of the group is an unsuspected energy that only a common project can sublimate. Like when you pass heavy things from hand to hand without saying a single word, it's beautiful.

Brice (union member) : Together we will win! We're going to start a team, it's decided. Punita for not changing I will take care of everything at the beginning.

valentine : Register via the Tourist Office website! Afterwards we are waiting for you on the 570 meters of racing. A quick reminder, you are the one who makes your car. The vehicle must not have an engine, steer with a steering system and have strong brakes. Then all that remains is to push it with all your might and drive like Jean Alesi in those good days.

Punita :And where is this happening?

valentine : In the heart of Lectoure, on part of the rue nationale, the departure will be just after the market, for an arrival on avenue de Saint Louis. This will give us a big curve to negotiate as the horizon clears due south, undoubtedly a prestigious arrival.
I would like to clarify an operation that we already carried out last year. All profits at the end of the day will be redistributed to local charitable operations for direct redistribution to the territory. Even if it is a small amount, we know nothing about it yet, our posture is intended to be “humanitarian”… on our small scale.

Punita and Brice (in chorus) : Well done, it's with small ladders that we can build big ones and save the inhabitants of the top floor.

valentine : That's a metaphor!

Brice : Where ??!!!

Obsessed by these words which never ceased to strike his mind, Brice walked away zigzagging, transfixed…. Pursued by Punita whose mental load had just increased considerably.

Valentin (in his dictaphone): Consider lowering registration prices this year... for adults and young people alike. Access to the activities remains completely free. Finished….

Will they have found a spun metaphor... pearl among pearls. To be continued in the next episode.