Day 24 - 1,000 mile cycle across France 🇫🇷 + Spain 🇪🇸

The final part of my day is the recollection of all the significant events. I then write them down in my notepad. And then share with Facebook, Instagram and Strava oh also my blog.

Blackout blinds are common in Italy but this is my first time experiencing them in Spain. Many years ago I did a road trip from Wolverhampton in England to Montella in Italy. My friends dad was driving. I was a passenger on a 24 hour road trip.

One of the things that stuck out about that trip in my mind with the blackout blinds at my friends house. I was taking an afternoon nap and the room was pitch black. But after waking and opening the blackout blinds outside was full of light from the shining sun.

And so I first experience blackout blinds in Italy. And now lying in bed at almost 9 o’clock the blackout blinds had served their purpose. I didn’t awake with the natural light as I have been doing for the past three weeks rather when my body was ready.

Washing my face brushing my teeth and then going downstairs. The hotel I stayed in was furnished with antiques and had a really nice feel about it. It also had a bar where life was happening. Groups of cyclists, people on vacation, truck drivers, Farmers about to go to work. Everyone seem to be recruiting the bar and having their desired drink and food, Yesterday was not just a coincidence with people drinking wine for breakfast as it was happening right now in front of me again.

For me I just wanted a black coffee with no sugar. I like to start my day with a black coffee. I started drinking coffee when I was living in Ethiopia in 2014 eight years ago. after my coffee I go back upstairs and packed my bags. It cost me a few trips carrying all my pennies for my bike to the lift.

I then had some breakfast, sausages chips and eggs. I’d seen someone earlier when drinking black coffee having this dish. And so I showed a picture of sausage chips and eggs to the bar lady and pointed at my mouth indicating I wanted to eat this. She said in English you want this no problem.

I forgot to mention I got pulled over by the police yesterday. I was not wearing a helmet on one of the roads and they drove beside me stared and then drove ahead pulled over and motion for me to pull over also. They said I could not continue without a helmet. But they were friendly and told me the next town had great food. I really appreciated the human touch.

And so on my bike I cycled into town because I wanted something sweet. The main street where I was walking yesterday had metal bars across and there were people holding onto the bars cheering and shouting. I went to see what the commotion was.

When I got there I saw a bull going crazy at the entrance to someone’s house. There was actually bulls loose in the street and pedestrians running round jumping out the way of the bull with large horns.

It’s Saturday today and I guess after people drink half a bottle of wine with their breakfast they decide to run down the street and try to avoid the bull. This is how stuff goes down in Spain.

I was even able to go between the bars and run away from the bull when it came close but I decided not to and just watched from afar. I stayed a while watching teenagers run round the other side of a fountain. Old men jump up and move their bodies out the way of the rampaging ball. And then after awhile I had enough and wanted to continue with my journey.

I started cycling up a mountain, the climb didn’t stop for about an hour and 30 minutes. I listened to a podcast about Dave Proctor and his trans-Canadian run.

On the other side of the mountain was the down and it was sweet I cruise at 50 km/h with the wind blowing in my face and the Sun shining. I stopped off halfway down had a coffee with an Instagram live and then continued with my journey.

And so The miles passed by, another 50 mile day today. I stopped in various towns and drank Coca-Cola. I’ve been craving ice cream and bought a full pint of Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough and ate the whole thing. Kids played in the square where I was sitting eating. Teenagers hanging out with each other.

I carried on cycling knowing tonight would be a wild camp and here I am on the edge of a Wheatfield having had to stamp down the sharp short Wheatstalk so they do not burst my air mattress.

For dinner I cooked pasta and had truffle oil with mushrooms. And about half a bottle of natural wine. From a town a few days ago.

The sky above me is abundant with stars and crickets of the orchestra playing the music around me.

This is my second night wild camping it’s always a little bit intimidating at first but it’s so rewarding and makes the adventure real. Not knowing what’s going to happen each day of this journey makes it a true adventure.