The man from Barrow

About 65k today, climbing up onto the Causse from Gourdon, then crossing it for about 40k, before descending steeply into Figeac.

I struggled to do more than 9 kph on the uphill but the speedo touched 59 kph on the descent.  

Philip, in his capacity, as the fittest fat man he knows, was faster both ways.

The Causse looked great, once the mist cleared.  Sheep and goats , with "cow bells" ( if that's not nonsense ) , dry stone walls, small fields and rocky outcrops. And utterly deserted.

What few villages there were had been by-passed by the new road that had been put in a few years ago. With its cuttings and embankments ( the former now natural rock gardens with saxifrage and stuff ) it made a more even road for cyclists.

But no cafes or buvettes till we reached a relais routier about 40 k in. We stopped for 4 courses ( passing on the cheese ) plus wine for about 12€ each.

And as we ate we reminisced about the man from Barrow. We bumped into him on this road in 2006.  He and a mate had decided, one night in the pub, to cycle up Mount Ventoux.

It must have been quite a night in the pub ! Ventoux is serious. The great Tommy Simpson died on its slopes.

He had got his bike out of a skip, bought  a cheap tent from Millets, and got a flight to Angouleme. He had slept the last night in a field by the road and was planning to meet his mate in Millau and go on from there.

He was something of an ingenue ( what is the french for ingenue? ) speaking little or no French, determinedly mispronouncing Millau, and commenting regretfully how French tinned tuna was not as good as you got at home !

In contrast to our lycra and specialist gear, he wore jeans, a work shirt and plimsolls.

I am not sure he knew what he had let himself in for (the jeans were going to hurt for a start ) and I am not sure he quite knew the geography. He planned to get to Millau that night, which was a huge undertaking. 

But all credit to him! He seemed a decent bloke and he had already made great progress.   I hope he made it.

If he did, it would make a great story down the pub. And the tale might have included meeting two poncey englishman with fancy gear.