dordogneBob

Chin up.  Don't worry about age (I'm older) and have had great pleasure connecting with a couple of local (French) biking buddies here.  Both road and VTT.  I speak bicycle very well but not yet so with the French and they no English at all.  They're quite a bit younger.  Doesn't matter, performance does. They do VTT in winter and happily offered me a spare when I visited in Jan. Good people.  Lived their whole life here and know all the nooks and crannies.  No doubt helps that my wife is French but not this area. 

This is a slight deviation from the thread, so apologies to that, but related.  I've been searching to find info regarding an annual trek replicating the ww2 hike by downed airmen across mountains to Spain, perhaps Andorra.  I recall seeing article in France Mag about 2-3 yrs ago on event which takes place in July each year (?).  Searched their archives and find nothing. I've mentioned this to French friend whose father was part of resistance and he's also interested. Thanks to anyone who can shed light.

Its easy to do it all yourself, including bypassing moving companies.  We packed, loaded and tied down furniture and goods into 40 ft. container for shipping Los Angeles to Le Harve at container rate, regardless of content weight or quantity.  One day to load the container with 3 friends and enough beer.  About 4 wks transit time.  Household goods reasonably itemized.  Helps to have a friend who knows how to pack/tie things down.  No breakage.  Goods 1 yr or older have no import duty fees.  Old car of German make to US import specs was a minor headache (Porsche had slightly different veh. number on chassis and original paper work. Required letter from them to say they mean the same thing!).  All came in same container with shipper in LA performing the car tie down.  Some vat required for car. UK transit had also been suggested, especially for car.  I could see no real benefit.  Local transit from Le Harve to Dordogne was reasonable cost.  Just be prepared to hop to it and unload the container at your door.

Since you're also in the 24 you probably will have no problem.  We have 8 mb service and are about 20 km n. of Bergerac.  Service is great (better than my US cable)