Short blog today I’m afraid….we have just arrived at our campsite after a 113 mile slog and I am utterly shattered…..shower, eat, beer (obvs!) and much needed bed. There is also only a very sketchy mobile signal so this will be “photo lite”

We knew of course that after almost breaking ourselves yesterday trying to speed across the countryside just to get an hour on the beach (still totally worth it!) today would be the longest planned mileage of any day but the reality of that has now hit hard. 

Given that we know it’s a “biggie” we decide to get up super early, forsake our porridge breakfast (unsurprisingly with hindsight a mistake that we later regret) and leave our favourite place so far at 7am. This time of day is always the best for cycling in my opinion it’s quite and it’s beautiful….its also bloody freezing! 

We are still roughly following the Velodyssey cycle route and in total I think we have covered more than 90 miles between yesterday and today only on cycle paths….it’s genuinely just amazing!

The route today is not just long but it is relentlessly, mind meltingly flat. If you are not a cyclist that probably sounds ideal. The fact is thought it means you have to constantly grind away at the pedals to make any progress and there are absolutely none of the free miles and short respites you so often get with hills. What adds to our challenge today is that now we are near the coast there is a very noticeable “breeze” (I wanted to call it a “stiff wind” but Marc says I am being dramatic….again!). Whatever it is it really makes the whole day “draggy”….every single metre forward requires just that little bit more effort. The accumulation of all that is extreme tiredness (again i went for exhaustion but was vetoed) and there is still a long long way to go before we get to our destination today which is Dax (where for some reason I imagine all the James Bond baddies originate) 

In order to stick to our second breakfast rules (I.e cover a third of the miles) we crash out 20 miles before our first stop for “pain au chocolat avec Jam”….it’s a new thing, you should all give it a go. On top of no breakfast though that is a lot of miles and we are both feeling it. At around 35 we stop for coffee in Facture and then, with a couple of brief pauses, we push onto our now favourite supermarket Carrefour Express where we pick up lunch. The strict understanding is that we cannot and will not stop for lunch until we are satisfied we have done more than two thirds of the day……and so at around 230, having covered a massive 80 miles (by lunch time people, by lunchtime!!!) we collapse by the side of the road and gorge. 

Just for the avoidance of doubt please be assured this is not just some “lads holiday” ……If it was we would have demanded a refund some time ago plus massive damages. 

We agree to break the last 30 miles in two and so stop again at 95 for a very brief feed and a rest at the side the road. Eventually we stumble into our campsite some 11 hours after setting off this morning…..and we are both done in. Fortunately there is a restaurant on site so as I type we are waiting for our food.

Sleep will come that little bit easier tonight.