Day 40 - Espalion France 75 kms The day hascome !

After much cursing and consternation the day finally came .... after 5 weeks of lugging around 10 KGS of camping equipment on the off chance that - a) the weather might come good b) we might find a camping spot near our destination c) we may have energy left over from our days ride to put our tent up or d) whether we could be stuffed camping - we decided enough was enough !

So with a Post Office next to our Hotel we unpacked our panniers and loaded up 2 x 5 kg parcels to send back to Australia !

With Henley jubilant we finally left St.Alban at 11.30 first socking up with lunch and then going on a never ending search for a bloody air pump at the local servo !

I love France and I can handle Boulangeries and shops choosing their hours of opening, I can nearly handle going into a bike shop (when open) and being told that the mechanic is off work but bloody hell going to hundreds of servos, which seem to be everywhere, and not finding an air hose is driving me crazy !

I can hear you say why is it an issue .... To date its been punctures but yesterday took the cake when we finally found an air pump connected it to the bike and found out on releasing the gauge that because the pump wasnt pressured when H released the connection it in fact let most of my tyres remaining air - and of course there was no one on duty at the time !

Enough ranting - we left St.Alban as I said at 11.30 with Kev in tears at the two extra gears the 5 kg reduction in bike weight had brought. Climbing was a breeze even though still at snails place as we arrived at Aumont Aubrac to take lunch in the beautiful sunshine !

It was embarrassing to say the least upon arriving when we noticed a group of people wed dined with the night before in St.Alban - after all our `dicking` around in town they had walked to Aumont Aubrac (15 kms) before we had even cycled there !

A great ride followed with some 25 kms of gradual climbing to the Col. Aubrac at 1340 metres, crossing miles of open rocky moorland very similar in fact to Dartmoor. This would definitely not be a place to be caught in bad weather !

To top the day the last 25 kms involved an absolutely stunning descent to Come d` Olt or `Come a Lot`as we had called it !

The descent was in two stages one gradual and one steep with the expansive views of the Lot Valley - amazing !

Trying to find accommodation at Come d`Olt was not successful so we cycled a further 5 kms to Espalion a much busier town and some good accomodation options to choose from

Dinner at the hotel was complemented by a walk around this quite lovely token - its magnificent centerpiece a 1,000 year old bridge that brought travelers and Pilgrims from into town. In the setting sun the view of the sunlit bridge was fantastic !

So here we are 10 KGS lighter, 2,500 kms travelled, Henley with new found zing, me surnburnt after 2 days of warm weather and yes there is more to come and life oh so good !