Saturday, May 24th, 2014
Route Map and Garmin Ride Statistics
As the luggage was loaded into the van outside our hotel, the sun was shining and the weather looked good for a relatively short ride of 90km to Aubusson. However, unlike yesterday's similar distance ride, today promised a cumulative climb of about 1,000 meters more than yesterday. So, horizontally identical, but vertically much more challenging.
The wind came up, and it was from the south - too bad we were riding towards the south. By about 30km we had enough of the increasing stronger and colder wind and stopped for coffee in a rather nice "auberge".
We were riding with three other guys until the first "photo opportunity" came up. A stop like this can mean you get left behind for quite a long time, as was the case here. But the blog takes priority!
Trevor pushed on at his own pace, and reckons it was the best part of the day. Les, Peter and Richard stopped for an energy boost, and also to wait for me. When we entered Jarnages at 54km there was Trevor waiting in front of the street barricade for a Saturday market.
It wasn't much of a market, but it quickly replaced our intended lunch stop a bit further on.
Other riders arrived, as did John from Bike Adventures who was apparently already there with the van waiting for us. This is "feeding time" at the sausage and crepe stall. Here's Team Tony, Irish David and Geoff also from BA, and John queuing up.
Mmmm - unfortunately too much bread and not enough sausage for me at this stage of the ride. I needed liquids not solids.
We all got something and sat down for a rest before the last 35km. Apparently we had already climed 800 meters but still had 500 meters to go! I didn't want to hear that.
We have left the flatter parts of the north, and the endless fields of crops, and we are now into hillier cattle country. There were also a number of 12th and 13th century churches, and the occasional chateau or country mansion.
Here's Trevor, Peter, me and Richard admiring the above castle from just around the bend.
A little further on, and a castle converted into a residence, or a guest house, or even council offices - we couldn't tell, but all three are possible.
Somewhere along the ride "plastic fatigue" imposed itself on my tool bag connector and I had to take it off. Fortunately, Peter had a pannier and offered to carry it the last 20km or so, We were all getting pretty tired of the relentless head wind by this stage. The clouds were also starting to build up, ominously...
We were promised a nice down hill run into Aubusson, but with those winds, even down hill required pedaling. The main street was long and narrow, but quite pleasant to ride along. Here's our hotel which is quite comfortable, and promises the best restaurant in town.
We made a decision to save that treat for tomorrow night and found a bar (first) and a brasserie (second) and had a reasonably priced "formule" (fixed price) meal and house red.
We have a rest day here in Aubusson, and given there's not too much to do here, especially on a Sunday, it looks like a sleep in and some washing. However, Aubusson is a centre of tapestries, so perhaps there will also be a visit to the Tapestry Museum tomorrow...?
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