Rest Day in Albi
Stage Ten completed last night.
Another long day but such a good feeling to get back in a groove. More hills and a hot morning but then a cloudy afternoon and a shower helped us. Some nice photographs that will appear in the blog. The Massif Central is beautiful.
Not having a 5am alarm is such a relief. Short lived it will be but I shall make the most of it. I have got some bike jobs to do - a thorough wash for example.
Just to answer a few questions:
Another long day but such a good feeling to get back in a groove. More hills and a hot morning but then a cloudy afternoon and a shower helped us. Some nice photographs that will appear in the blog. The Massif Central is beautiful.
Not having a 5am alarm is such a relief. Short lived it will be but I shall make the most of it. I have got some bike jobs to do - a thorough wash for example.
Just to answer a few questions:
- How am I feeling? - beyond tiredness, in the evenings I am simply on auto pilot. - I have been bitten by insects, all over and some big lumps have appeared. - my knock, arms and hands are ok. My last tour resulted in a loss of feeling in my fingers, but not this time, yet. - my mouth is sore, inside. - lost quite a bit of weight but not muscle in my legs. Today I will have 2 massage sessions. Shoulders, neck etc and then legs.
- Do I sleep well? - it is a heavy sleep, completely out until the alarm. It seems so short though. Eating today: - breakfast out, omelette and toast and coffee. Lunch with a few others probably, steak, chips and I want garlic mushrooms.
- Washing? - all done by hand in the shower so far. Today will be a launderette day.
- How did I get into cycling? - as a boy I always had a bike, rode everywhere in my village life in North Yorkshire. Then I had a succession of racing bikes, or those with drop handle bars. When I was 17 Dad and Mum we’re away on holiday so I looked after the farm using my bike. I had a bad accident and ran into the back of a milk van coming down a steep hill in the rain, rushing home to milk cows! Bike was a write-off. My knee scarred but somehow I got away with it. - then after several marathons throughout my life - the last being London in 2007, my Achilles was so sore, all the time. I got a bike and started Sunday riding with Jonathan Tink. A few of us went on to do some small events. And now I am here on Tour de France for a second time.
- Snakes? - we saw a dead one on the road 2 days ago. It was long, yellow underbelly. I have a bit of a phobia about snakes but like watching TV documentaries about them.
Comments
I'll trade you snakes for cows and bulls any day - just ask Wife....