Day 30: Guéret to Chateauroux and...

86 kms. Details

For reasons I shall explain, I decided to exert myself just a little and make the fastest passage to Chateauroux that the initial hills would allow, and covered the last 50 kms, admittedly trending slightly downhill but into the wind, in under 2 hours. Trust me, that's pretty quick on the loaded bike.

The countryside for the last three days has been a series of variations on this theme:

Rolling hills covered by partly-wooded farmland, very beautiful to ride through but not especially spectacular photographically. And every few miles a village, the larger ones invariably provided with an excellent Boulangerie/Patissierie. I haven't made enough of the boulangeries, they are everywhere and simply perfect for the passing cyclist who needs sustenance. I've developed a passion for chaussons aux pommes and today picked up a superb tartelette de rhubarbe. 

So, why the hurry this morning? Because, dear reader, I have decided to bring this little voyage to a close. While riding between Limoges and Guéret I found myself planning my route back to Paris, and quite suddenly, the spell was broken. I realised that from then on I wouldn't be in the moment, just doing what the fancy took me, but would just be riding to get home, and that isn't the same thing at all. So I booked myself and the bike on a train from Chateauroux to Paris on Wednesday morning, and on the Eurostar to St Pancras on Wednesday afternoon.

Naturally, of course, it turned out not so simple. Within a few hours of my buying a ticket, SNCF e-mailed me to tell me that because of a mouvement social (elegant French euphemism for a strike) no trains would be running on Wednesday. However, my ticket from Chateauroux to Paris would be valid any day from Tuesday to Friday. Hence, a quickish ride to Chateauroux to make sure I could get a train to Paris today and be there to make the Eurostar connection tomorrow. 

As it transpired, I could have dawdled. I had plenty of time to have a look round the town before the train. Not especially remarkable, but the old part by the river is pretty enough.

I've decided to spare you a final picture of a cathedral...

So, tomorrow I should be back in The UK and re-enter real life. Or, possibly, exit real life; I am more alive, I think, when doing this sort of thing than when doing predictable things in familiar surroundings.

Thanks for reading. I'll be doing more tours, and they'll be recorded here.