Back At McDonald's and I Miss My Bike

The original plan was that I would be renting a bike in l’isle sor la Sougue  so I could take  some short rides from the rental house.  Not so much so I could stay in shape, but just for the experience of cycling in another country.  It would have been one more country off the bucket list of places to bike. I’ve concluded, however, that it’s not going to happen.  There is just not enough time in a day. Each day is packed full of sightseeing, driving, sightseeing, driving, wine tasting (for the passengers in my car) and  eating . As one of the designated drivers, wine tasting for me has to wait until we are back at Mas Agrade.

What’s been interesting is that on every road I’ve driven and every town I’ve stopped, I’ve seen cyclists. They are very lucky guys who are not in a car, but on a bike. I think I spot more cyclists than my passengers  and have finally given up saying “biker” every  time  I swing widely to the left to avoid my own Tour de France bike vs car accident.  I figure we have to look out for each other even if we don’t speak the same language.  I probably slow down and give more space to cyclists than the average European, which I believe gives more space than most Americans.

Not being on a bike for a little over a week has made me twitchy.  In addition, I have not  been able to run because of either being too tired to get up at pre-dawn , not wanting to run on roads I don’t know, or being afraid of getting shot in the early morning light by an over aggressive French hunter. Yes, hunting of some type of woodland creature started this week.  One morning there were so many hunters around the house I thought we were under siege. Perhaps the second French Revolution was starting.

It is now less than a week before my new bike and I finally get to meet.  Because of the time all this has taken, It sort of feels like a pre-arranged marriage or even a marriage. I’ve seen pictures, have paid the fees, but what if it doesn’t work out?  What if the bike is not what is promised? I guess in six days I’ll know.