To my amazement, the town mayor organized a reception in the square! About 30 townsfolk... And the local bike clubs turned out 1km out to escort me in. such a treat :) :)
A nice average of 23.5kmh over 250km, but quite a bit of climbing again.
Over n out for now
Just 36km to go. If you are in the region, esp with kids, you MUST visit the kept-alive medieval sector.
I can smell the end now, and the sun is out and wind blowing. Rider's paradise.
A bit south of lovely saumur. Going well so far, looking fwd to my dailg end of ride puncture.
Cheeky anchovy pizza slice, good salt hit. Sun is pounding now, spf50 galore. South of le loire, and everything looks and smells like the part of france I love.
Joel and Sydney, make sure you stay awake for daddy!
De la couee. No dragons here. Apart the one breathing fire on the remains of my butt.
Sleepy sat morning. Two more villages then coffee n tartine. Good start, sun out, 22.3kmh av, 203km to the finish.
06:10 Where's the big guy who beat me up while I was asleep?? Ok MB/LAA/A-T I'm earning it today, my legs are blown and I can barely sit on the bed, while the standard issue hotel kettle takes 4hrs to boil.
No nice brekkie today just tea/tin milk, and yesterdays bread + nutella. The staff don't start till 7, I'll be gone.
Had a scare with gps unit last night. Think I've fixed it but am v glad I have paper village/road name list as backup.
Right here goes
While the bath is running...
It was a game of three thirds. The first bit I just couldn't warm my muscles up. I was riding slow, my knees were both a bit tendon grumpy, my butt was literally stinging, I was sleep deprived and a grump. But after a nice boulangerie raid I hit that fabulous d1 and caught up lost time by lunch. The last third was cruel mind game. I kept thinking I was further than I thought. It never ended, the surfaces turned rough.
The least 50km was all hills, not one flat bit at all. I got stung on the thigh by a bee I hit at 40mph and stuck to my lycra. I got another puncture.
What else...I observed today that 80 of french drivers are male, between the age if 50and 55.
I concluded that the answer to almost any question is basically "it depends", which is why a lot of people like maths.
I planned my summer holiday. Twice.
And to cap off the evening I just dropped my long finger gloves in the TOILET. Forgot I had tucked them in the back of my bib shorts...so now they're wet and I wanted to use them in the morning. Skies are clearing so it's going to be a cold one I think. 7hrs kip and I'll be back on it :/
Oh and my garmin battery died as o reached the hotel. So whole course recording lost. I also can't restart it. Uh oh.
