Cycle trip Intro:
This is for friends-fun, map geeks (like my dad) and cyclists who want to do this(final section),
again mainly fun so bear-through the facts and figures; they are short.
To move in date order click the links to the right -> as you read.
next one up is next post in date order.
or click the 'Newer Post' link at the bottom of each page.
First post:
http://mentalphysicalactivity.blogspot.com/2014/08/across-france-in-7-days-ok-so-i-could.html
also...
Have you read my weekly "Friday Thought" blog?
Enjoy!
Craig
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Funny pics I took along the way - (While aching and sweating like a Baboons Donkey)
Pretty spooky to ride past on your own...
I'm feeling 2.5 after all these peanuts.
Engage Number One!
No sense of humour in Paris?
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
French animals...(literal; not a metaphor)
Escapee...
Trapped!
MontPellier Babies
2 Bull Headed Chaps
Open for 'professionally dressed' surgery!
bike tips: (I'm a novice so....)
Tips may be UK / France specific.
Travel with a bike:
Bus and air you should be prepared to minimise and pack or flatten the bike. Pedals off and 90o the handlebars. Bus needs to wrap wheels but frame is not compulsory (national express).
Cycling pace strategy...
If flat take easy
If hill use weight on pedals(alternate legs)
If down hill Keep low use t bar front to rest upper body.
If not duck down low as pos. practise firstly!
You can get super faster with straight bars by getting as low as possible. It is worth it but dangerous!
Travel with bike TGV France:
The lady said each train company charges 10e for a bike. So for two trains to paris that totals 20e.
Montpellier to paris is 150 euros basically booked last minute as I didn't know when I would finish.
I just did. At any cost really as so tired!
Researching: Flights were cheap 30 euros from Montpellier but 50 for the bike!
So I thought train would be best.
Especially that another night in Montpellier would cost 65 to 75 minimum. So I got a sleep over/slow train @150
It's all expensive, basically.
But if I did it again maybe I would rent the bike there. Or such like. Then fly cheaply home. Travel with the bike has been a pain.
I'm hoping to get a national express from paris home but I need to wrap up the wheels.(had to get train last time as didn't know about wrapping and missed it) it is not the frame apparently mainly the wheels.
National express/eurolines from paris doesn't run on Sunday! (Edit:I could book on the websiteon Sunday BUT there were euroline coaches moving to/from ferry so I was shocked(and annoyed).
So making my way to Gare du Nord to do calais then ferry to Dover then train home. I've given up trying to do it cheaply. Late is never cheap. Maybe if I had a friend in paris I could have done 2 days here and factored that in as a set-achievable-date planned return journey (I have made a few French friend now BTW) but 2 days is 2 more nights stay so increases cost especially paris! I knew I would want to just be heading home ASAP also after that ordeal!
BTW, I pre-bought food and kept it with me so I had breakfast on the train into paris instead of buying in paris. (In fact while waiting for mc Donald's to open for free wifi -blocked during closing hours!- I chatted to two highly hung over guys who also just met. I charged one of their phones with my solar and got a free burger out of the deal.
Both happy there!
Train to calais booked:
70euros
10 for the bike so that's 30 for the bike so far so plane would have been a better option really but I would have to have wrapped it up. Or bike bag@50 to buy for maybe a one off.
The Couchettes! 6 man rooms, biker aroma and everything...great...
Even with no working SIM you can use a GPS app to help on your smart phone.
(true for a USA iphone, USA SIM card and a App called Donnees IGN Outdoors with french maps)
I had no roaming and it did not cost me a penny.
Helpful Resources:
The address of the Montpellier Airport is:
Aéroport Montpellier Méditerranée
34130 MAUGUIO
France
33 (0)4 67 20 85 00
Travel with a bike:
Bus and air you should be prepared to minimise and pack or flatten the bike. Pedals off and 90o the handlebars. Bus needs to wrap wheels but frame is not compulsory (national express).
Cycling pace strategy...
If flat take easy
If hill use weight on pedals(alternate legs)
If down hill Keep low use t bar front to rest upper body.
If not duck down low as pos. practise firstly!
You can get super faster with straight bars by getting as low as possible. It is worth it but dangerous!
Travel with bike TGV France:
The lady said each train company charges 10e for a bike. So for two trains to paris that totals 20e.
Montpellier to paris is 150 euros basically booked last minute as I didn't know when I would finish.
I just did. At any cost really as so tired!
Researching: Flights were cheap 30 euros from Montpellier but 50 for the bike!
So I thought train would be best.
Especially that another night in Montpellier would cost 65 to 75 minimum. So I got a sleep over/slow train @150
It's all expensive, basically.
But if I did it again maybe I would rent the bike there. Or such like. Then fly cheaply home. Travel with the bike has been a pain.
I'm hoping to get a national express from paris home but I need to wrap up the wheels.(had to get train last time as didn't know about wrapping and missed it) it is not the frame apparently mainly the wheels.
National express/eurolines from paris doesn't run on Sunday! (Edit:I could book on the websiteon Sunday BUT there were euroline coaches moving to/from ferry so I was shocked(and annoyed).
So making my way to Gare du Nord to do calais then ferry to Dover then train home. I've given up trying to do it cheaply. Late is never cheap. Maybe if I had a friend in paris I could have done 2 days here and factored that in as a set-achievable-date planned return journey (I have made a few French friend now BTW) but 2 days is 2 more nights stay so increases cost especially paris! I knew I would want to just be heading home ASAP also after that ordeal!
BTW, I pre-bought food and kept it with me so I had breakfast on the train into paris instead of buying in paris. (In fact while waiting for mc Donald's to open for free wifi -blocked during closing hours!- I chatted to two highly hung over guys who also just met. I charged one of their phones with my solar and got a free burger out of the deal.
Both happy there!
Train to calais booked:
70euros
10 for the bike so that's 30 for the bike so far so plane would have been a better option really but I would have to have wrapped it up. Or bike bag@50 to buy for maybe a one off.
The Couchettes! 6 man rooms, biker aroma and everything...great...
Even with no working SIM you can use a GPS app to help on your smart phone.
(true for a USA iphone, USA SIM card and a App called Donnees IGN Outdoors with french maps)
I had no roaming and it did not cost me a penny.
Helpful Resources:
The address of the Montpellier Airport is:
Aéroport Montpellier Méditerranée
34130 MAUGUIO
France
33 (0)4 67 20 85 00
9th day - 12th sep 2014 - The Grape Thief and The Beach!
9th day - 12th Sep 2014
6 Am wake-up shout!
When you camp and it is traffic-quiet it is sometimes/often different in the light.
Unfortunately I found a spot and realised too late that there was visibility to the road.
So I just got woken up. Sounded like he said 'brole' which means fire? (Campsite? No fires?)
I guess I look all pink and body-like and a concerned citizen would come and look.
Better than a wild dog eating your feet wake-up call!
Back to freezing sleep...
Morning View:
Canal du Rhone a Sete & Z.A.E. la Tour - Vic-la-Gardiole, Montarnaud.
So due to 3 hours of puncture hell yesterday I'm cheating and pinching that time today if I can get to the south beach before mid day I've done it in 8 days. (It's my trip and I'll cheat of I want to!).
8:30 Am off again.
D619/3? Brieflyoop
D27 to coast
So hungry..only stinky water left!
Fresh grapes! Wow!! I can still taste them. Hang on I am tasting them.
How do you say in French:
"That guys got pockets full of yummy grapes!"
I think the old folk's I passed just said that.
Irish, Policeman, abstinence?
D185
@11pm Plage (beach)
Another wet shirt to keep me cool and I ran into two amazing Brits who are north to south of Europe!
(details footer)
But I got another flat back tire, my fault for going over bad ground. (Two puncture areas also which worrying when you think you fix it put the wheel back on then it still doesn't pump up.
Dark reminders from yesterday, but this time I'm on a peninsula in the middle of nowhere.
Not a busy town a walk to the bike shop! (but met nice German/Estonian couple who met in the USA) then fixed and continued on to the south beach.
Fin!
Interactive bit of blog:
Go to YouTube
Type: Morten Harket ready to go home
Enjoy it for me..."I'm ready now to sleep".
Next:getting home research
First: hotel,shower,sleep - hopefully in that order....but?!
The British guys who were cycling Europe, please visit and support them:
6 Am wake-up shout!
When you camp and it is traffic-quiet it is sometimes/often different in the light.
Unfortunately I found a spot and realised too late that there was visibility to the road.
So I just got woken up. Sounded like he said 'brole' which means fire? (Campsite? No fires?)
I guess I look all pink and body-like and a concerned citizen would come and look.
Better than a wild dog eating your feet wake-up call!
Back to freezing sleep...
Morning View:
Canal du Rhone a Sete & Z.A.E. la Tour - Vic-la-Gardiole, Montarnaud.
So due to 3 hours of puncture hell yesterday I'm cheating and pinching that time today if I can get to the south beach before mid day I've done it in 8 days. (It's my trip and I'll cheat of I want to!).
8:30 Am off again.
D619/3? Brieflyoop
D27 to coast
So hungry..only stinky water left!
Fresh grapes! Wow!! I can still taste them. Hang on I am tasting them.
How do you say in French:
"That guys got pockets full of yummy grapes!"
I think the old folk's I passed just said that.
Irish, Policeman, abstinence?
@11pm Plage (beach)
Another wet shirt to keep me cool and I ran into two amazing Brits who are north to south of Europe!
(details footer)
But I got another flat back tire, my fault for going over bad ground. (Two puncture areas also which worrying when you think you fix it put the wheel back on then it still doesn't pump up.
Dark reminders from yesterday, but this time I'm on a peninsula in the middle of nowhere.
Not a busy town a walk to the bike shop! (but met nice German/Estonian couple who met in the USA) then fixed and continued on to the south beach.
Fin!
Interactive bit of blog:
Go to YouTube
Type: Morten Harket ready to go home
Enjoy it for me..."I'm ready now to sleep".
Next:getting home research
First: hotel,shower,sleep - hopefully in that order....but?!
The British guys who were cycling Europe, please visit and support them:
8th day - 11th sep 2014 - Puncture Hell and 4 Wild Dogs!
8th day - 11th sep 2014
********************
It occurred to me yesterday that I would be cycling on the D911 and I thought I would wait and see when that would be. Somewhat serendipitously it is on 9/11. September 11th 2014.
I think it is fair to say that the world did not turn the right way due to events that day.
We need to still try to get along as a species and that did not help.
I am very sorry for people who lost someone. Including a new friend of mine.
**************************
Morning View:
Millau & Saint-Beauzely - Midi-Pyrenees
7:30am Freezing night. While it is sunny in the day and 5 days out of 7 a blue sky I'm very disappointed in the southern evening temperature. However, for cycling it is perfect. No humidity (less sweating) and sunshine if you want it or cover up if not. Any hotter and it would make the water consumption/availability become a problem. So I have 'Great Ambivalence' about the temperature, then...
(Yellow route near st beauzely = short route).
930 start 3 raw eggs breakfast, erp..Scuse-Me!
First sign post:
D911
I named this "Sheep Mountain" (click/zoom in).
In French "Mouton Montagne" pron. 'mooton mootanya'.
Millau - expensive looking people!
(Looks all downhill, great, but only different, as dangerous lorries wear the nerves, holding on tight and freezing as not warmed up yet).
D809
The thing I keep remember-forgetting to type here is about the smells. A real range from pine-ish in forests, freshly cut grass on a small lorry, road-kill mixed with freshly baked bread, musty trees and the unforgettably unique aroma of a babies nappy heat-rotting in a discarded Le clercx shopping bag. Each Unmistakable!
Arf...Flat back tire!!!!! Shouldn't have spent all that time above BSing!
But really good going to not get one so far.
Ok nearly 2 hours later still mending, lesson: bring a spare, these are brand new so....I didn't. Hope this glue is ok, feels ok. Erm, also ensure you have the yellow crayon. I just fixed this then it went again as I got the plaster right on the edge of the damage.
Fingers...
Ok, Luckily it went, again, just before I got on the main route.
Local shop is...local thank goodness...
A very nice man helped me and supplied new glue.
Arcuri Cycles
3pm! 50 miles to go!! 6 hours till dark.
The positives: less strong sun! Icecream and yop! (But don't tell anyone)
Leaving Millau - up a serious incline..
Bike issues:fixed at least two sticking links in chain that is causing clicks as you pedal which is an alarming sound you don't need with lorries next to you. Upshot? it's flat road again.
D809
More links clicking and fixed. Not funny anymore. Seems everything went wrong after I first saw the Montpellier sign. Hufz...6pm.
Ok epiphany. Hint: at 550+ miles even a brand new chain may need more greese, so bring some!
If none you 'could' use laughing cow soft cheese but I didn't say that....enjoy licking your fingers afterwards.
(Le Caylar, La Cavalerie & La Couverto - Midi-Pyrenees & Languedoc)
7pm Couple of old guys say it's 4 hours on bike to MontPellier.
"And" I won't do it tonight.
Ok wrong thing to say to 'me' right?
As now I have to!
Le Caylar - Not into Lodève - D9 @8pm (close but not into clairmont l h)
This morning I happened to grab 2 emergency sugars from the hotel room,
a long shot, but yum for energy. (I may take off as not used to it).
Clear, star-y night.
Finally, Warm wind yay!
Huge huge downhill, nice lights below. Bad road surface.
Arboras @10pm beach town feel.
Montpeyroux (another smell) of beer or wine at brewery.
Gignac - really nice big town square - turns can be misleading!
D619
@2330 MontPellier within minutes now (3 miles)
Very sharp pain in knees and very sore bum from speedy downhills.
Great fun!?
Aawwwww
Finding a place to sleep has always been noisy as next to the road so - can sleep instantly and resume cycling instantly also.
Anyway this time... I disturbed 4 wild dogs or wolves, small ish like a house dog. Looked well fed really. Not scrawny anyway.
Glad they were running towards, but to my right, as obviously best they are scared of you!
Dinner is one raw egg and hosepipe water. Great aroma there.
You can't take anything away from a man who has lived under these conditions.
Everything is a luxury from now!
Sad I missed my pizza. I'll have it tomorrow instead! (edit: I didn't!)
1:30 Am in - Warm-er night in the south, but not 'warm'. I must remember that my beardy-stubble makes a sound against the sides as it's pretty scary hearing something sound so close in the night!
********************
It occurred to me yesterday that I would be cycling on the D911 and I thought I would wait and see when that would be. Somewhat serendipitously it is on 9/11. September 11th 2014.
I think it is fair to say that the world did not turn the right way due to events that day.
We need to still try to get along as a species and that did not help.
I am very sorry for people who lost someone. Including a new friend of mine.
**************************
Morning View:
Millau & Saint-Beauzely - Midi-Pyrenees
7:30am Freezing night. While it is sunny in the day and 5 days out of 7 a blue sky I'm very disappointed in the southern evening temperature. However, for cycling it is perfect. No humidity (less sweating) and sunshine if you want it or cover up if not. Any hotter and it would make the water consumption/availability become a problem. So I have 'Great Ambivalence' about the temperature, then...
(Yellow route near st beauzely = short route).
930 start 3 raw eggs breakfast, erp..Scuse-Me!
First sign post:
D911
I named this "Sheep Mountain" (click/zoom in).
In French "Mouton Montagne" pron. 'mooton mootanya'.
Millau - expensive looking people!
(Looks all downhill, great, but only different, as dangerous lorries wear the nerves, holding on tight and freezing as not warmed up yet).
D809
The thing I keep remember-forgetting to type here is about the smells. A real range from pine-ish in forests, freshly cut grass on a small lorry, road-kill mixed with freshly baked bread, musty trees and the unforgettably unique aroma of a babies nappy heat-rotting in a discarded Le clercx shopping bag. Each Unmistakable!
Arf...Flat back tire!!!!! Shouldn't have spent all that time above BSing!
But really good going to not get one so far.
Ok nearly 2 hours later still mending, lesson: bring a spare, these are brand new so....I didn't. Hope this glue is ok, feels ok. Erm, also ensure you have the yellow crayon. I just fixed this then it went again as I got the plaster right on the edge of the damage.
Fingers...
Ok, Luckily it went, again, just before I got on the main route.
Local shop is...local thank goodness...
A very nice man helped me and supplied new glue.
Arcuri Cycles
3pm! 50 miles to go!! 6 hours till dark.
The positives: less strong sun! Icecream and yop! (But don't tell anyone)
Leaving Millau - up a serious incline..
Bike issues:fixed at least two sticking links in chain that is causing clicks as you pedal which is an alarming sound you don't need with lorries next to you. Upshot? it's flat road again.
D809
More links clicking and fixed. Not funny anymore. Seems everything went wrong after I first saw the Montpellier sign. Hufz...6pm.
Ok epiphany. Hint: at 550+ miles even a brand new chain may need more greese, so bring some!
If none you 'could' use laughing cow soft cheese but I didn't say that....enjoy licking your fingers afterwards.
(Le Caylar, La Cavalerie & La Couverto - Midi-Pyrenees & Languedoc)
7pm Couple of old guys say it's 4 hours on bike to MontPellier.
"And" I won't do it tonight.
Ok wrong thing to say to 'me' right?
As now I have to!
Le Caylar - Not into Lodève - D9 @8pm (close but not into clairmont l h)
This morning I happened to grab 2 emergency sugars from the hotel room,
a long shot, but yum for energy. (I may take off as not used to it).
Clear, star-y night.
Finally, Warm wind yay!
Huge huge downhill, nice lights below. Bad road surface.
Arboras @10pm beach town feel.
Montpeyroux (another smell) of beer or wine at brewery.
Gignac - really nice big town square - turns can be misleading!
D619
@2330 MontPellier within minutes now (3 miles)
Very sharp pain in knees and very sore bum from speedy downhills.
Great fun!?
Aawwwww
Finding a place to sleep has always been noisy as next to the road so - can sleep instantly and resume cycling instantly also.
Anyway this time... I disturbed 4 wild dogs or wolves, small ish like a house dog. Looked well fed really. Not scrawny anyway.
Glad they were running towards, but to my right, as obviously best they are scared of you!
Dinner is one raw egg and hosepipe water. Great aroma there.
You can't take anything away from a man who has lived under these conditions.
Everything is a luxury from now!
Sad I missed my pizza. I'll have it tomorrow instead! (edit: I didn't!)
1:30 Am in - Warm-er night in the south, but not 'warm'. I must remember that my beardy-stubble makes a sound against the sides as it's pretty scary hearing something sound so close in the night!
Friday, September 12, 2014
7th day - 10th sep 2014 - South! Ms Tessmacher, South!
7th day - 10th sep 2014
Morning View: (Sunny morning in the south of France...finally.)
Woke at 11am after a bit of an up and down night. Need to get out of here. Exec decision to not buy food for two days as I have been because..
A) I'm leathered and can't carry the weight
and
B) it seems I can buy stuff along the way instead. I can't be carrying tuna cans up mountains now when I'm pre-exhausted
and
C) last few days have proved I can keep going with little food in me in the daytime; caffeine and sheer bloody-mindedness to finish. So super-hog calorie items like peanuts and high energy like dried fruit. I can tank up on ice cream on route (yea, yea, wouldn't that be nice).
<moan>
My right hand feels like you get when you wake up and it feels very weak or pins and kneedles - but just all the time now.
I can walk like a 'drunk guy' but whole legs feel sore especially knee areas.
Yes I'm not glad I'm here!
</moan>
1:15pm set-off from Aurillac after mini-shop/eat.
With Montpellier probably 2 days away and this being the 7th day it is frustrating but may have been a tall order to have done 10 to 20 miles more per day, each day, so far.
Direction Millau D920 (Not rodez as out of the way.)
Yes sometimes you have to be a mad Englishman and soak your top. I did feel all tom cruise-top gun "slowly walking". with all those old ladies watching me (or do I mean hanks?)
Longest downhill yet. You have to do that one before u die! But get t-bars on bike.
Montsalvy @3:23p really nice town.
Some architecture for those inclined:
Mountains!!!!!
"Love made sweet and sad the same."
(OK Forget the long downhill comment made earlier. Below Aces-it)
There is a huge temptation when doing a 7% 7 kilometer (e3.5 miles) drop to just let go and enjoy it.
Which I did......but.... "With" my breaks on in sheer terror!
Wow!
(Kd Lang never sounded so good, covers album or not.)
Nice bridge! To end that downhill madness.
Weird junction D920 disappears briefly, but continue and go right over bridge and see sane signages.
Fast food! Two raw eggs,peanuts and dry fruit(coconut&banana luxury!)
Soak-watered my top again for extreme cooling.
Old ladies watching.
Again.
(Hey, There are good tips in it!).
Espalion 920 bends 90 degrees!
Briefly towards rodez but not.
I was down there. Yes. Now after a huge hill climb I'm up here!
Zoom in to above pic. Central are castle ruins. Sting lives there.
At this stage any mode of transport other than a sodding bike looks hijack-able....no keys!
D28 (Not D904)
Lassaic (a few hills before it again!)
D28 joins D911? (N88)
Severac -> Back D28
Long winding scary forest with a full moon!
It's weird isn't it flogging ones self across France.
I wonder (other than deep thought) what I'm getting out of this self-flagellation...
..and...
..how...
..if.. it will have changed me?
If I can do again what I just did today (purely a piece of string on the map inaccurate) I will border Montpellier or be there if less hills on that last run (rumoured).
Beach anyone?
Finished @midnight.
Morning View: (Sunny morning in the south of France...finally.)
Aveyron & Cantal - Auvergne & Midi-Pyrenees)
Woke at 11am after a bit of an up and down night. Need to get out of here. Exec decision to not buy food for two days as I have been because..
A) I'm leathered and can't carry the weight
and
B) it seems I can buy stuff along the way instead. I can't be carrying tuna cans up mountains now when I'm pre-exhausted
and
C) last few days have proved I can keep going with little food in me in the daytime; caffeine and sheer bloody-mindedness to finish. So super-hog calorie items like peanuts and high energy like dried fruit. I can tank up on ice cream on route (yea, yea, wouldn't that be nice).
<moan>
My right hand feels like you get when you wake up and it feels very weak or pins and kneedles - but just all the time now.
I can walk like a 'drunk guy' but whole legs feel sore especially knee areas.
Yes I'm not glad I'm here!
</moan>
1:15pm set-off from Aurillac after mini-shop/eat.
With Montpellier probably 2 days away and this being the 7th day it is frustrating but may have been a tall order to have done 10 to 20 miles more per day, each day, so far.
Direction Millau D920 (Not rodez as out of the way.)
Yes sometimes you have to be a mad Englishman and soak your top. I did feel all tom cruise-top gun "slowly walking". with all those old ladies watching me (or do I mean hanks?)
Longest downhill yet. You have to do that one before u die! But get t-bars on bike.
Montsalvy @3:23p really nice town.
Some architecture for those inclined:
Mountains!!!!!
"Love made sweet and sad the same."
(OK Forget the long downhill comment made earlier. Below Aces-it)
There is a huge temptation when doing a 7% 7 kilometer (e3.5 miles) drop to just let go and enjoy it.
Which I did......but.... "With" my breaks on in sheer terror!
Wow!
(Kd Lang never sounded so good, covers album or not.)
Nice bridge! To end that downhill madness.
Weird junction D920 disappears briefly, but continue and go right over bridge and see sane signages.
Fast food! Two raw eggs,peanuts and dry fruit(coconut&banana luxury!)
Soak-watered my top again for extreme cooling.
Old ladies watching.
Again.
(Hey, There are good tips in it!).
Espalion 920 bends 90 degrees!
Briefly towards rodez but not.
I was down there. Yes. Now after a huge hill climb I'm up here!
Zoom in to above pic. Central are castle ruins. Sting lives there.
At this stage any mode of transport other than a sodding bike looks hijack-able....no keys!
D28 (Not D904)
Lassaic (a few hills before it again!)
D28 joins D911? (N88)
Severac -> Back D28
Long winding scary forest with a full moon!
It's weird isn't it flogging ones self across France.
I wonder (other than deep thought) what I'm getting out of this self-flagellation...
..and...
..how...
..if.. it will have changed me?
If I can do again what I just did today (purely a piece of string on the map inaccurate) I will border Montpellier or be there if less hills on that last run (rumoured).
Beach anyone?
Finished @midnight.
Close to goal location for the day. I realise I'm a total Masochist.
6th day - 9th sep 2014 - Sometimes you just have to live on eggs and solar power ;-)
(Ok so things are bad if I'm doing semi-smileys!)
6th day - 9th sep 2014
Morning View: (Cantal & Correze - Limousin & Auvergne)
Right hand is hard to grip since got to the hotel (no, not due to internet access) but I do need it to complete this mission. So 'fingers' on that one, (if only with the left fingers).
I feel like a combination of decard and Dutch actor Rutger Hauers character from blade runner. (But Hmmm Pris).
So I'm horizontal charging this phone in bed. Relishing the inside-ness after 5 days. And yes I figured 7 euro for a hotel breakfast or over-the-road shop, and able to choose more for just 5 Euro.
So I am wheat-ing it large today, yes. Quiche,croissant(ham cheese) funny doughnut thing.
Hypocrites would be proud!
Time for bum plaster. Thanks for the tip brother Gavin.
Despite the orange-padded cycling shorts; the skin is broken and very sore...
Superman looks a little disgruntled. I get it....Sorry Clark.
Just now I am on a line with the Boudeaux region horizontally speaking.
Some french say this is the official south divide line.
Good rest and dried my lovely smelling hand washed clothes(ok smell was inaccurate).
Maps are so funny! (but click and look closer?)
A late 12pm off after credit Card wouldn't swipe @hotel, but started to rain a bit as I start.
Dry all day so far.. great! Reviewing route while I still have wifi then...
Great downhill runs!
Ussel->D982. (NOT D922 as long around)
Crazy amounts of blackberries.
I have never eaten so many so quickly with such gusto! I do wonder if the guy watching me with a wry smile has sprayed them with something though?
Ok lunch done. Lucky as I had nothing left to eat! I feel funny suddenly....
I feel safe on roads as they definitely give you room also I Assume no one actually wants to actually 'kill'
a cyclist!?
Warmer suddenly.
Wind-y and shear drops but great fun.
Video
Rain! (Quite disappointing amounts)
Makeshift Pink-Pannier cover!! (my favourite colour)
D678
Is it possible to overdose on blackberries? Fun though AND essential if you have zero food and don't think you can make the next big town before dark.
I think I'm blind!
D22 & D26 Mauriac
D15
Maybe first mountain glimps and sun!
D922
Can I make it to below with 3+ hrs before dark. I'm dry now... but My stomach says yes! Brain? Unsure but let's stay super positive.....'Morten Harket' music I feel for this one.
Morten helps but Parkinson theory states that humans need impending deadlines to perform.
It's working for me. (Hunger and deadline!)
Just for you a quick stop to vid these babies:
But it occurs to one (and I'll share it) that on these many crazy downhills and wobbly uphills that 'I' or a careless driver could pop me off this mortal coil. It is interesting and makes you think about if you did and said all you could in that pre-mort time.
I thought about this before I left and yes I think I did...
But sad to not see how it all ends.
That would be a premature shame.
Really.
Onwards...tummy grumbles!
You could....
Getting hilly
Water needed. Guys say all downhill now and shops close at 9. Hopeful!
Nicest thing about a deep valley is leaving it behind.
Simply amazing downhills for miles or flat, a real treat after the days ups and downs.
D18 Aurillac (hunger city) 9pm
Made it but food shops closed. Dam...
Hotel+Buffet!!!! Food Blind again!
6th day - 9th sep 2014
Morning View: (Cantal & Correze - Limousin & Auvergne)
Right hand is hard to grip since got to the hotel (no, not due to internet access) but I do need it to complete this mission. So 'fingers' on that one, (if only with the left fingers).
I feel like a combination of decard and Dutch actor Rutger Hauers character from blade runner. (But Hmmm Pris).
So I'm horizontal charging this phone in bed. Relishing the inside-ness after 5 days. And yes I figured 7 euro for a hotel breakfast or over-the-road shop, and able to choose more for just 5 Euro.
So I am wheat-ing it large today, yes. Quiche,croissant(ham cheese) funny doughnut thing.
Hypocrites would be proud!
Time for bum plaster. Thanks for the tip brother Gavin.
Despite the orange-padded cycling shorts; the skin is broken and very sore...
Superman looks a little disgruntled. I get it....Sorry Clark.
Just now I am on a line with the Boudeaux region horizontally speaking.
Some french say this is the official south divide line.
Good rest and dried my lovely smelling hand washed clothes(ok smell was inaccurate).
Maps are so funny! (but click and look closer?)
A late 12pm off after credit Card wouldn't swipe @hotel, but started to rain a bit as I start.
Dry all day so far.. great! Reviewing route while I still have wifi then...
Great downhill runs!
Ussel->D982. (NOT D922 as long around)
Crazy amounts of blackberries.
I have never eaten so many so quickly with such gusto! I do wonder if the guy watching me with a wry smile has sprayed them with something though?
Ok lunch done. Lucky as I had nothing left to eat! I feel funny suddenly....
I feel safe on roads as they definitely give you room also I Assume no one actually wants to actually 'kill'
a cyclist!?
Warmer suddenly.
Wind-y and shear drops but great fun.
Video
Rain! (Quite disappointing amounts)
Makeshift Pink-Pannier cover!! (my favourite colour)
D678
Is it possible to overdose on blackberries? Fun though AND essential if you have zero food and don't think you can make the next big town before dark.
I think I'm blind!
D22 & D26 Mauriac
D15
Maybe first mountain glimps and sun!
D922
Can I make it to below with 3+ hrs before dark. I'm dry now... but My stomach says yes! Brain? Unsure but let's stay super positive.....'Morten Harket' music I feel for this one.
Morten helps but Parkinson theory states that humans need impending deadlines to perform.
It's working for me. (Hunger and deadline!)
Just for you a quick stop to vid these babies:
But it occurs to one (and I'll share it) that on these many crazy downhills and wobbly uphills that 'I' or a careless driver could pop me off this mortal coil. It is interesting and makes you think about if you did and said all you could in that pre-mort time.
I thought about this before I left and yes I think I did...
But sad to not see how it all ends.
That would be a premature shame.
Really.
Onwards...tummy grumbles!
You could....
Getting hilly
Water needed. Guys say all downhill now and shops close at 9. Hopeful!
Nicest thing about a deep valley is leaving it behind.
Simply amazing downhills for miles or flat, a real treat after the days ups and downs.
D18 Aurillac (hunger city) 9pm
Made it but food shops closed. Dam...
Hotel+Buffet!!!! Food Blind again!
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