Day 108
Starry Starry Night
Well we heard rain all night and it was still raining heavily when we got up. We hijacked a sheltered spot at the campsite to eat breakfast and pack our panniers, but there was no escape for the tent, it was packed away whilst dripping wet. For the first time in 108 days we set off in full waterproof kit as it was cold too. Such a contrast to yesterday’s 23 degrees and brilliant sunshine! The route was more forest along fabulously smooth tarmac with virtually no climbing however we are finding it all a little repetitive, you can get too much of a good thing. Please feel free to remind me of this sentiment when we hit the Pyrenees!
Tom had snapped a spoke, drive side, rear wheel, back in Ireland, and I debated about replacing half of the rest of the drive side which showed a little damage. After a chat with a bike shop we decided on balance they would hopefully be OK, the bike shop was convinced they would be, but alas it wasn’t to be. Click, click snap it went, only this time we were miles from a bike shop. We taped the offending spoke and hoped no more would break before we got hold of the tools to repair the wheel.
We realised we are tired. We haven’t had a proper rest since Anglesey, any time off since has usually been busier than a cycle day. Cleaning kit, planning ahead, servicing the bikes, it’s non-stop, and we need to stop, and rest up in the sun somewhere pleasant. The sun was finally out when we arrived at our campsite, Domaine du Cayre. There was clearly outdoor space with some shelter, a town and beach within a couple of miles or so and according to Google, bike shops. The campsite owner was friendly, so we booked two nights and started to relax!
I couldn’t believe it when I was woken by rain. That was not part of the plan. Tom encouraged me out of the snug, warm and very dry tent as we needed to get to town to find a man with a cassette remover. First though I needed a coffee. No kettle but a microwave, however our pan and cups are metal, then I had a brainwave. Back in Skibbereen, Marie had kindly sent Tom and I on our way with a Tupperware tub full of cakes, long since eaten, but we still have the tub. Ideal to pop full of water and heat! Tim and Marie, thank you once again!
Man with cassette remover wasn’t playing ball. He had shut up shop for the winter until Spring. So we went back to being holidaymakers for the day and treated ourselves to plate de jour at Le Pignon in Leon. We had been meaning to stop for this since we arrived in France and it was worth the wait. Wonderful food, friendly owner, relaxing time in the sun, we felt refreshed! Now we are back at the campsite, sat in the sun, Tom has a beer, I am considering opening a bottle of Kriter, a very cheap fizz that was a family favourite when we visited Lacanau. Tom is sewing using a kit I ‘borrowed’ from his mum, and I am on hold with my phone provider trying to sort phone problems, Kriter is a better option methinks!
