events

Whenever I have found my'self in France cycling through some large forest it's almost alway's owed by some local abbey.

The road was quiet, flat or downhill, little traffic and smooth tarmac, 8 in the morning what could be nicer?

Thought I'd stop for breakfast in the shade.  Click on the photo to see the little chapel opposite.

There were lots of cyclists out for a ride, it was the 14th so I imagine lots of people are on holiday, Bastille Day.  Most say hello, though some don't even reply when I've said hello.  How horrible for them, they've bought the latest lightweight carbon fibre bike with titanium extras, aerodynamic tight-fit lycra and in their effort to cut down on weight they've even had to abandon normal everyday politeness.

The D6 into Vichy was a little busy for the last 10km but not too bad.  As I've said before most drivers are very good, giving me lots of room.  There are some unfortunate pinch points on some roads in towns, small raised sections in the centre of the road, especially as you approach a junction or roundabout.  they're normally about 50m long though sometimes there are several strung together.  they're almost wide enough for a car to squeeze by though most don't try but occasionally you have to take the centre of the lane to stop the more impatient or more homicidal from trying.

This photo is of some quite field on the D55/59 where I decided I needed to eat.  Being the 14th everywhere was shut, so no food.  I had half a baguette, 1 banana, 2 nectarines, 6 choc-chip cookies and a jar of honey and I ate the lot though not quite all the honey.  It was a peaceful little spot and it was nice to be off the bike and in silence for 20 minutes.

The last kilometres before and after Lezoux to Billom where through beautiful country'side on good fast tarmac but I was very tired.  But then there's alway's someone worse off than you.  And that person was me moments later when something stung me on a fast descent.  The bike shook as I reacted and I had to stop my'self from trying to thwack whatever thing was continuing to do me harm.  Bought the bike to a rapid halt.

Actually it wasn't a sting and it had happened to me before on a campsite.  Some invisible insect, that makes no sound, with no initial sting, just a quickly increasing burning pain which builds to very painful.  The last one I had was two day's ago and which had now left a large red blotch on my shoulder.