Second Day 2018

            Fressines to Cognac

            The first day is always the toughest, lets hope.  I went over 50 miles in a truly Herculean effort.  I did not want to stop too soon otherwise I would have hastened back to Fressines with my tail between my legs.  The battery was a tremendous help on the ups and at the end of the day.  The first battery died on the very last up into Cognac. 

            The sky was a mottled gray with storm clouds threatening rain but none ever came.  The sun began peeking through shortly after one.  I took my first serious break in Contre, a nice country town with very old Romanesque style church with thick stonewalls and a narrow nave barely containing two rows of pews. 

            The lady in the bakery in the center of Matha put together a delicious sandwich of ham and cheese.  I immediately finished half washed down with a ice cold beer. 

            Much of the time was checking the map because I was truly traveling the back roads.  Even so I found myself on one goats path that was so damp that the mud clogged my front wheel.  I had to clear the wheel with my fingers just to let it move.  Another time I was on an up so steep that even the battery failed to assist.  I had to walk the bike and loaded trailer for at least one hundred yards up this incredibly steep slope. 

            In Cognac I struggled to find the campground and was so dog- gone tired I flung myself on the air mattress for a brief nap.  Then I went looking for a super market.  There was one in the center of town.  Once again my eyes exceeded my stomach and I bought enough food for several meals.  The traffic in town was light and there were only a few diners scattered in the outside eating areas bordering the many fashionable restaurants.  Cognac is obviously noted for its brandies and brings tourists far and wide but only the lucky few are able to travel at this time. 

Happy Trails to you until we meet again!

Much joy!!!
Hardy