My day didn't start well. It was a a very steep climb out from my campsite to the main road, maybe 30% or more. Whatever, if you only used the front brake of the bike as a handbrake the bike just slid backwards downhill. It was easier to pedal in bottom gear than to push. I'd already stopped a couple of times for a breather on the way up. Getting going for the third time I wobbled and fell......that bike is so top heavy. No harm done luckily although I ripped a hole in the knee of my Gore rain pants (that hurt!)
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| The beast is down! No damage done - respect to Ortlieb panniers and Ergon racks. |
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| Corniche de L'Estrellas. Very picturesque but a lot of up hill and down dale pedalling |
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| Munching again. Notice the bike gets the umbrella - not me! |
Things improved after that. I finally found porridge oats in a Dia supermarket, I was starting to think they weren't part of the French diet. Then I clocked 2,000km, and mid-afternoon I joined the coast road at Freijus on the Corniche de L'Esterel. Ahead lies Cannes, Antibes, Nice and Monaco.
As the day wears on I start to become a little anxious about where I am going to spend the night, or rather, how much is it going to cost me. All the hotels are 4/5 star along this stretch and lets face it.......I'm starting to look like a hobo. I have an optimistic outlook which says, don't accept that, there will always be something better around the next corner (even if daylight is running out) and sure enough there was the the lone star Hotel California just waiting for me 7km beyond Cannes. Another night of heat, abundant hot water.....and hand-washing clothes, blog writing, battery charging. : /
Mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice?
ReplyDeleteWell done Mike - 2000km. Woah!!
Yes, well done Mike. Surprised at the temps you are finding, below freezing at night...brrrrrr.
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