22^nd Day 2018 Auch to Beaumont de Lomagne

            Sleep came easily after a filling dinner and a long hot ride.  Shortly after eleven some odd ball started playing the tom-tom eliciting a “Are you crazy?”  He momentarily paused and then started up again.  This time I shouted, “Get out of your play pen!”  Dante are you listening?

            On this trip at two different times motorists have stopped to see if I needed assistance as I pushed up a steep incline.

            I am thoroughly amazed how religiously consistent I am about zipping up the tent.  It is not if a flight of flies or an army  of ants are set to pounce at a moments notice.

            Breakfast this morning is sparse, two cups of coffee and a handful of nuts.

            This campground is filled with long time leases and is set up for large gatherings.  There is a swimming pool, bolle court, miniature golf, and a well supplied game room.  The managers/owners are very pleasant and professional.  Florian had visited San Francisco four years ago.  He rode the cable cars, ate at Fisherman’s Wharf, and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Getting off early was a big help.  It did not hurt that overcast skies blotted out the sun.  Sadly, D 924 turned into N 124 which is a no-no for bicyclists as I was frequently reminded by the honking horns of passing motorists.  Strangely, the road had a wide shoulder and I felt safer than on some of the country roads with no shoulders. 

I hurried off at the first possible exit.  The road was once again D 924 and must have been the way east before the national freeway was built.  The road paralleled N 124 will several kilometers before separating and sending me into the unknown.  I played a hunch and tried a road crisscrossing D 924 and heading north.  With Lady Luck on my side, I soon came to D 175 with a sign toward Mauvezin, my midday destination.

Once again I was on a road from three years ago.  I readily recognized the unique steeple on the church in St. Antonin. 

In Mauvezin, I picked up a delicious ham and potato hot dish along with six chicken legs.  I saved half for supper.  A pacer joined me for lunch.  Back and forth he walked beneath the shelter in the town square. The evening before, at the campground in Auch, a man walked by missing a foot.  A metal “T” extended beneath his pant leg.  I had never seen that before.

In the morning I used the electric assist several times as I searched for the right road.  The anxiety was confounding my stamina.  After lunch, more sure of my route, I rode the entire way without electricity.  The cloud cover had totally disappeared in the afternoon and the accompanying heat zapped my energy.  It was not as hot as the day before but it was still in the high 80’s.

I have stayed in the campground in Beaumont-de-Lomagne two times before.  Located near a lake there are several water activities including water skiing and a zip line.

            The great mathematician Pierre de Fermat spent his early years in Beaumont-de-Lomagne and his home has been turned into a museum.  Unfortunately, the exhibits are only in French.  Surprisingly and thankfully, in the south of France nearer to the Pyrenees many of the posters were displayed in several languages.

            My site in the campground is next to the lake and affords a ringside seat for the joggers, hikers, and cyclists using the path circling the lake.  At the store I finally found the Gazpacho soup that Isabelle had recommended.  This, a melon, a bottle of wine, and the leftovers from lunch served for dinner.

            The cathedral was tremendous!  The size and magnificence defies logic of being in such a small town.

            Isn’t it strange how we easily share our bad luck but find it difficult to express our good luck.

Happy trails to you until me meet again!!!

Much joy!!!

Hardy