Duex d'etape low on fuel...

I did it! I did two stages today (30 miles of trail) and am in Aumont-Aubrac. Things were moving right along with much more rideable conditions and beautiful countryside. I had a couple sections where I had to push my bike a 100 yards or so, but all-all nice ride. I ran into the French guy that had taken the piss out of me the day before, but then kind of had a moment at the end. I ran into him in a tough rocky uphill section but rode it. I yelled out "Mon Ami!" And he smiled and told his friends about me the day before struggling with my bike on the trail. It was nice he asked if I was good and then we took a selfie together. 

I was going great and ended up about 2/3 to the finish when I had lunch. I was feeling pretty strong and like "I got this one" when the trail turned uphill and unrideable again for quite a ways. It just exhausted me about 5 miles outside of town and I had trouble even going up minor hills. While it took me 4 hours to do the first 2/3rds, it took me 3 hours to do the last 1/3rd. Don't know what to do about tomorrow but I did reserve a room in Saint Chèly d'Aubrac which is again two stages but the last 5 miles are downhill. 

I'm kinda missing the pilgrims here. Not nearly as many doing this section as in Spain. I run into and pass maybe 50 a day and almost all are French who don't speak English so connections are limited. In Spain I ran into maybe 300 a day with many nationalities and a fair number of English speaking people. It was nice to trade experiences and stories. I have only run into one other American woman who was doing a few stages while her husband was on business in Paris. The guy who ran the hotel was sitting around with his friends and then broke out his guitar with some urging from the American Catherine and played country for them while we watched. It was fun. 

Don't get me wrong, I had some wonderful alone time in the countryside chatting with the cows and appreciating the quiet sounds of nature, but missing some of that sense of community that I had in the past. Anyway, thanks for reading. Pix of the day!

Dave