Annecy

Hello all

Well its been a long, long road to the Alps, and harder than I expected, but I am nearly at the end of the cycle part of this adventure. I have pushed things pretty hard over the last few days, when the body was saying no, please stop, and the legs were feeling a bit wiped out even at the start of some days. I think it will take a day or two more, a couple of beers, and a sports massage to get back to normal. Today is a well earned rest day therefore, in the beautiful town of Annecy, on the edge of the Alps.

Yesterday was the last long stage; a relatively short one compared to previous days at 91 miles (although that is still a long way!), but a hilly one, crossing over the Jura hills that run just to the west of the Alps. In planning the route, I seemed to miss the fact that there was a 750m climb over a col on the quiet road I took from Macon! However it was a pleasant ride in the cool morning sun, after some heavy early showers, and riding up through the lush hillsides, there was the sight and smell of dew rising off the damp grass, with some jagged limestone cliffs jutting out of the forests in the distance. I also had the pleasure of the descent following the climb, so I got some good video footage of that. Max speed 41.1 mph! That is my target to beat tomorrow if I do a bit of an alpine col on the way to Chamonix. This time I will check a map more carefully first to see exactly what I am taking on!!

Its interesting how the climate and scenery changes as you move along, and I seemed to have the fortune of following a break in the weather most of the way across France, and steadily increasing temperatures. The flip flops have proved ideal, Mary. Thursday was a scorcher, and I was quite exposed to the sun in the increasingly rural countryside, as I headed away from at the times touristy, at times industrial, Loire valley. I didn't realise the french had tucked away some the their nuclear power stations in the sleepy upper reaches of the Loire valley, adding a certain je ne sais quoi to a fine bottle of Saumur further downstream. That brings a new meaning to the old expression; tout ce qui brille n'est pas d'or. Are we ready for such cosy proximity to these factories of fear in the UK, in the name of saving the planet from global warming?

Anyway, I followed the canal in the valley as far as I could, grateful to the engineers of the Canal du Centre who had the good sense to put a road alongside the canal for most of its length. From there, it was a push (mentally I mean: all miles have been done in the standard cycling technique, with no artificial aides or stimulants, I hasten to add; except lots of drinks and energy snacks) over some quiet hills in the baking sun to Macon. I nearly ran out of food and drink on the way though, and was fading badly on the hills to Cluny, as being properly rural France, all the shops were closed for siesta / long lunch. Intermarche in Cluny is definitely one of my favourite places in France so far. The water was especially fresh, and the refrigeration superb!

Doing 110 miles in a day, you have to start early and keep going come what may, otherwise you just dont get to the end. Interestingly 110 miles is just 2 miles short of the ironman cycle distance, which seeing as I was carrying all my (minimal) gear with me for hotels, was pretty good going, although I stopped for lunch and several breaks, and I was in no state to do a marathon at the end of it. You do learn that these things are as much about hydration and nutrition as anything else, and bananas are possibly the best food ever invented, with loads of energy and being easy to eat 'en velo'.

More updates and photos to come, but keep donating; don't be shy. I'm off to enjoy relaxing by lake Annecy and have some lunch.