Coooold morning view (Sarthe & Orne, Lower Normandy & Pays de la Loire)
I need to get southwards before I freeze at night. (If this 'scene' confuses see the first posts)
Survived the night, but next to the road is too disturbing.
8:30am start after more scrump'd apples! (With the odd worm for protein)
Chateauroux is 141 miles away
D338
...and how high and long this road goes. 2nd day blues...
Coming up to 'Le Manns' were some of the largest ups and downs of the entire journey.
Right knee bad had to walk up one and rest.
D147 D314 D138 D338
McDonalds IS useful after all. Universally too. Water refill, etc.
Tours N138 - despite terribly painful knees
(I figured out the stats counter on the GPS)
Todays total of:
76 miles cycled max speed 26mph 8h 30 on road. 2hrs ish rest.
couple of excellent new roads dug out of the hills makes for excellent bike madness.
It is the up that is hard, painful work.
After Le Manns they seemed to be leaving a section un-stoned which was excellent, as slip sliding faster, but ended too soon.
Bedded down 11pm on some government land.
It was hard to find somewhere secluded. had to search for grass as thought they may complain if I pitched the pink on cabbages. no mosquitoes.
Quieter with nice cricket sounds. No hungry visitors yet. But of course next to a road.
Nice and temperate... sitting here but I need to get to sleep.
Yes it is finally time to admit that Mr 'no coffee' and 'headaches are to be endured' has been using performance enhancing drugs!
(Well if I was using HRT for some fertility or low testosterone reason you would support it probably)
So here is my cocktail:
Half a caffeine pill when tired in Pm
Two spoons of creatine (1 am/ 1pm)
Paracetamol when needed
Oh 1 multi-vitamin also half am/pm
Sorry for the miss-leading hyperbole!
Had to chase some hungry creature away with loud sounds and bush rattling at 2am. Sausage, peanuts and maybe fish sticks attracted it. Not me, no. It was the actual food items.
--Biking Thoughts--
My advice on end of day 2. Get touring conditioning not just 'I ride to me mates ov a sat'dy night for ten minutes when drunk'
You have to do a few 10+ milers per week to feel the ennui of it all.
Always take music but maybe only listen with none road-side!
Test-Run-Check your bike by doing the above before your out for real with no tools! (Packed panniers and all)
