The weather was so much better today, not perfect mind you, there were raincloud in the distance (see above) but they did not bother me, luck was on my side today and I did zig zag between the raindrops.

The towel heater did its job and the shoes were dry this morning but I decided that I need backup shoes, something light and flat so that, if I find myself in the lurch, which I might well do in the monsoon of central Africa, at least I can move around.

The lady running the B&B was super and for breakfast I got freshly cooked crepes, you almost not miss the english breakfast, but then, you do. I set off at 9:30 and made quick progress. The route today was either rolling hills (low) or flat and I managed to get to the highest average speed so far 13.3 which I managed to keep to the destination only dropping to 13.2 once I hit La Rochelle, I should not have stopped at traffic light, should I? The bonus bit was a Canal path from Luçon to La Sèvre Niortaise where I saw at least a dozen of Herons both grey and white and despite my best stealth mode I miserably failed to record on camera (Don’t I just sound like the proverbial fisherman that caught a 10 pounds trout that then escaped).

It is quite tricky to get a balance between becoming a slave of the onboard computer, a slave of the camera, a slave of social media or to just enjoy the ride. I am still finding my feet and it’s nearly a month I’m on the road. I think things will change once I get to Africa, the better weather will bring with it ease of wild camping and therefore no “got to get there” type stress. Also I will by then have found a balance between what I want to record for my own pleasure and what I feel I have to share with the world.

I did not do many stops today, one to get some bread and a strange and yet delicious swirly raisin cake which bit the dust by elevenses (as I look like Gandalf I am indulging in a Shire routine sometime). Then I stopped to get a coffee, which like in Italy you get on the fly, and finally I had to keep the appointment I made in Rennes with my Decathlon break pads.

Now, if someone cares about me please run to a Judge and get an injunction preventing me to enter another decathlon shop. Aside for the fact that the pads where not there and I have another appointment set in Angles, near Biarritz, I cannot seem to go into the shop without coming out with some new merchandise. Naturally the things I bought are badly needed but…. I bought a lovely M electric blue top that will replace one of my L t-shirts and a pair of dinky flat trainers which at €22 will just be the right shoes backup I needed.

I will have to tie myself to the bike in a Ulysses and the Sirens fashion when I go in the shop in Angles to avoid coming out with a canoe or some scuba diving equipment.