Trying to be helpful I surveyed available tools suggesting to H that maybe some deft use of bike lubricant and a pair of tyre levers might assist his giving birth to some unknown alien species !
Ignoring my advice Henley decided to let nature take its course delaying us another 30 odd minutes causing us to leave Maslacq after10 a.m. although worth it just to see Henleys damned fine impression of John Waynes famous swagger as he walked to his bike !
We were only 10 minutes in to the ride when the threatening rain finally broke forcing us to take cover in a bus shelter with a German pilgrim. In talking we discovered that she had walked the distance from Le Puy (650 kms) saying how tough conditions were in the mud and rain .... and we winged about a few cold days !
Following the cessation of rain we continued cycling in open countryside with few cars in sight making our way to Naverrenx after a substantial granny gear crunching 3 km climb !
With the French habit of closing shops on Sunday we raced to the local supermarket in Naverrenx with only 10 minutes to spare stocking up on eadibles for the remainder of our days journey.
Leaving we crossed the towns 12 th C pilgrim bridge built to help pilgrims cross the river.
The scenery was now really beginning to change as we entered the foothill of the Pyrenees. Clearing clouds revealed rolling hills increasing in frequency with even steeper ones in the background !
We bumped into two fellow touring cyclists doing the Camino towing cycle trailers. In talking to them it was also obvious that they too had the worse of recent weather not being able to camp nor ride the Camino trail with it being exceptionally muddy in parts and unsuitable even for walkers !
With the cycling now entailing regular climbing we decided to end the days effort at Saint Palais as an additional 35 kms to St.Jean may have been a bit too much for Kev still not yet fully recovered from his infection !
On a Sunday Saint Palais was just about as deserted as you could get ! This was backed up by the fact that after booking us in the hotel staff went home leaving us the run of the place !
With a laundromat handy we took the opportunity to wash our tired looking clothes even though Henleys socks were way beyond saving.
Struggling to read the machines instructions we both set about trying to find someone to help interpret and to tell us where we could get detergent from.
In an amazing stroke of luck Henley entering a cafe actually found the lady who had the keys to the laundromat. She not only explained to us the machine instructions but as we were obviously pilgrims, gave us two cups of detergent on the house !
Some people may count luck in terms of winning Tattslotto but Henleys win of 2 cups of detergent was equally as amazing !
With the Hotel staff gone we took great delight in turning our room and balcony into a washing line realizing that we may not be the best looking pilgrims but will almost certainly be the cleanest when we rock into St Jean (gateway to Spain) tomorrow !
Kev, whilst you and Mega are basking in the warm French sun, this morning at your place it was 1 degree (minus 2 in Warrandyte) and 7 on our return. Don't think that I've ever been so cold on the bike and it was cold from go to whoa!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy those Pyrenees!
WMc