Day 76 – Bagnac-sur-Cele to Roannes-Saint-Mary

Monday July 18, 2011, 46 km (28 miles) – Total so far: 2,800 km (1,740 miles)

We finally left Bagnac-Sur-Cele. The GPS routed us away from the main road which we were thankful for. It was a steady 2% climb for about 40kms. It was easy enough to cope with the gradient, but it just took ages to get very far. We were averaging about 8 km/hr.

Around 4.30pm, it started to get cold and looked like rain. I was a bit worried as we still had another 10 kms to the next town and at the speed we were cycling it would take us over an hour. If it rained we could start to get hypothermic (a problem I encountered 2 years ago in Germany with frostbitten fingers and feet). It seemed like we would never reach the top.

Finally having reached the top, on the downhill run it started to rain. It was freezing. Luckily this time (having learnt from the previous trip) I had my waterproof gloves and waterproof socks on. Plus a thermal under my not so waterproof jacket. I really hoped the town had a hotel as so many towns don’t have anything. I knew it would be a hard 20 km slog to Aurillac if we had to continue.

Thankfully there was a hotel in town, and it was reasonably priced at just 46 euros. The room was really nice and clean. They did dinner for us as well, although we are still unsure of the price. There was no menu – they just bring you out food, and you eat whatever they bring.

They brought us a litre of red wine and some bread to start (a very good start indeed).

Next they brought out a toasted ham and cheese croissant with some salad.

Then some sausages and lentils (thankfully not out of a tin).

Then some big blocks of cheese (which you take only as much as you want) – I had a fit of giggles as Mike tried to carve one of the cheeses and it ended up with horrific gouges in it. It was quite embarrasing.

Then they brought us a creme brulee for dessert – followed by coffee.