Day 8 Long Haul – Eclectic Items

Having rested for a day I set myself too much to do. 120 km and 900m climbing was too much when most of it was on off-road tracks. When making my plan I didn’t quite realise how much harder the off-road stuff was compared to riding along smooth tarmac.

The first 50k was on wide paths but very hilly. I took shortcuts on the road where these seemed easier.

I was gradually leaving those Morvan hills.

and entering the wide valley of the upper Loire river.

Sometimes trying a road route didn’t work.

When you reach a sunflower harvest you know you are heading soth.

Wide open spaces, energy sapping sandy tracks

10k from the end of a long hot day, this is roughly how I felt

After seven days in the slow peaceful semi-deserted contryside it was a shock to reach Moulins, a medium-sized town full of noisy traffic, people, dust.