Day 1.369 – Sniffy Style (UK)
Gien -> Sens
Distance (km) : 94
Time on bike : 5h 18m
Brutto time: 09.20 – 17.15
Avg : 17.7 km/h
Max.speed: 32.5
Total (km) : 60.736
Altitude: 100 m
Difficulty: 3
It’s been snowing again last night. Gien is all dressed in white, but I don’t care much about it, ‘cos I feel recharged after my great (but too short) time with Laureline, her cats and indoor comforts.
The surprise of the day materializes when I leave Gien behind me and realize that a little TAILwind pushes me north towards Sens, where I’ve arranged another Couchsurfer-meeting, with Pierre-Francois, a 29-year-old (secondary) school teacher.
According to my experience France’s got some of the (probably THE) best and most considerate drivers in the world. Without exceptions they always give me a wide berth, don’t make any stupid, close-call overtakings, often salute me respectful as if I was Superman (and seem to express their sympathy with me cycling in this weather) – so it doesn’t really matter that most of the rural backroads I’ve been taking in France don’t have a proper shoulder for cyclists.
All my love goes to the considerate French drivers. Exemplary!
It’s still cold, minus 2-4 degrees C, but at least I don’t have this freezing hair dryer (aka headwind) blowing in my face all day long today. I feel strong and confident today (what a perfect illusion a bit of tailwind makes, huh), and arrive in Sens early in the afternoon, head for the local McDonald’s (they all have unlimited, free wifi, hallelujah!) and make a Skype video call to my mum (dad joins too), my dear birthday girl. 07011951.
Pierre-Francois meets me downstairs at his downtown apartment, and walking straight into a strangers’ home has never felt more natural.
You are crazy, in a good way, and I admire your project, Pierre-Francois proclaims when he hears more about WT. Lots of stories are shared with him, and again I feel fortunate meeting all these wonderful and super-hospitable (French) people.
On this day..
Day 1.004 - Otavalo Admin Dag 1.004 - Otavalo admin-dag - 2009- The Global Peace Index... - 2009
Day 639 - Getting Ready for Tasmania Dag 639 - Det Danske Køkken - 2008New photos in the diary...... Nye billeder i dagbogen... - 2008Day 273 - Vallée d'Amour Dag 273 - Vallée d'Amour - 2007Photos from the Kingdom of Cambodia... Nye billeder fra kongeriget Cambodia... - 2007
