Journal /
All in one week
A lot has happened this week. I’ve had people clapping as I cycled by, older ladies inspecting my bike with the most curious interest. The lid of a tomato sauce bottle came off in my food bag, covering all my stuff in tomato sauce. I met a Camino hiker named Philip, or I think that was his name. I got invited for some expensive-looking rum and cheese by this very interesting German couple. I’ve received coffee and a egg from people. And I met a lady who explained to me some about George Sand, a famous feminist writer from this area who used to live near the place I am currently at in Montgivray (taking a rest day here). I’ve had good weather. It only rained on the 11th. The last two days it has been 24°. A very nice temperature.
Since the 15th it’s become noticeably less mountainous, with more flatness and fewer steep slopes. Along canals it feels so easy to bike after all the climbing I’ve been doing. I had a tough climb in Vézelay because the cathedral is on top of a hill. I stayed at a campsite at the bottom of that hill where I met Philip. He only spoke French and I definitely don’t speak French, but we somehow managed to get along. I asked him if he wanted to go for astroll through Vézelay and so we did. Even with a language barrier we had some laughs and shared some of our expirieces. He’s an interesting fellow. Hiking is what he does full time. he’s walking the Camino back and forth and started in the north of France. He usually sleeps by wild camping and supports himself by posting TikToks of his journey. He makes enough with it to pay for food, etc.
I’ve had a few days where it was hard pedaling onwards. So that’s when I implemented music. I try to only use it when necessary, but when I do it really helps. A lot of Frank Sinatra, Spinvis and André Hazes.
Also had a few bike issues that needed solving. A squeaky pedal, and I had an accident while in a busy city, which can be quite a stressful place to be in in a not bike friendly countries. The grip plate of the padel came off when i scratched the padel against a high sidewalk. Meaning it needed to be glued on again. I also had some issue with my pump where a crucial part has been lost. But I’ve managed, with some tinkering, to restore the function that part had been serving.
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