Alison and Alison and the art of re-tyrement

Cycling from London to Spain

Day 18 Condac to Angouleme.

Distance 35.8 miles

Plus 8 miles to the bike shop

Ascent 513 metres Descent 551 metres

Christophe was a marvel today. He took us on a beautiful route through the Charente valley to Angloueme.

The chateau at Verteuil sur Charente

We have given Christophe a silver star but cannot award the highest honour due to his un-nerving ability to take us the wrong way down one way streets. But this is France and the french cyclists follow the Christophe path and so do we.

It is clear that Christophe is not used to pensioners. He is over-ambitious in his predictions of our arrival time. Today as we left the campsite our predicted arrival time in Angouleme was 2.20pm. At 1.45 pm we were 30 km away and just starting lunch.

Oh dear I have found two identical sunglass cases. One belongs to the headmistress who had the trauma of the exploding tyre in her car. Off to the post office tomorrow.

Having arrived we set off in our search for another bike shop. A sprint at the end of the day and we arrived just as the assistant was about to close. He took in the bikes for a brake cable repair. How were we going to do the 5 mile trip back to Angouleme?

Pierre Sam offered us a lift. We joined a chair, bike parts and a collection of cycle helmets in his car.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for us.

Good night.

alisonmiddleditch

One response to “Day 18 Condac to Angouleme.”

  1. chrisincarshalton avatar
    chrisincarshalton

    So relieved to hear from you! Your epic journey is affecting sleep patterns in Park Hill in the sense that neither of us are able to rest until we know that you are safely tucked up in your white fluffy tent.

    But last night we succumbed to sleep by 10pm, so it was lovely to wake up to your reassuring update. Clearly Christophe makes no allowances for senior citizens in his timing estimates. We may complain to his website about his ageist tendencies.

    And, just as we were (on your behalf) celebrating a whole day without a bike-shop visit, a new problem arises. Life is cruel. But we have our problems here in the UK. An announcement has just been made that there is, officially, an acute bunting shortage. That will put any problems you have today into perspective.

    Safe journeying! xx

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