Day 7 on the EuroVelo6 bike trip. Today's trek took us from Berry-Bouy to Decize a total of about 75 miles. So, how would I describe today's ride across France. Let's start with HOT! No not just hot I mean really hot! The temperature hit 101 degrees and we were pedaling our bikes in it. While it wasn't a particularly long ride (finished 65 miles) the heat and humidity were stiffing. Yet we rode on. Crazy you say? Probably, but sanity overtook us at the 65 mile mark and the women picked Tom and me up in the van as Jay continued riding another 9 miles to the hotel. The only other time I rode in conditions that hot was when my trek across the Mohave desert in 09. But it was a dry heat unlike today's conditions. And, to add to the adventure, the entire way was a continual hilly up and down. Not like the mountains but enough to put me in granny gear many times. Oh and am I forgetting that in the afternoon there was a stiff wind....in our faces. All that whining aside, it was still a great day to pedal a bicycle across Europe. One mistake I made was when Jay asked if we wanted to join the bathers (see pic} in the middle of the Loire to cool off. I actually contemplated it but declined. I probably won't decline in the future. And, a rare occurrence as we made a rest stop after about 20 miles. At the little bistro, since it was too hot for an Expresso, we ordered a Coke. If you recall from a previous post ice is a rarely here. But when the Cokes were served, we got three glasses filled with......wait for it...... ICE! Amazing! Since I am in recovery mode that will end today's entry. Stay turned!
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