Ahh…a simple and short looking ride today. That was my feeling at breakfast as I checked the route. 28km along flat main roads. This was the perfect ride after yesterday’s mammoth one. Oh how wrong I was!

I set off with Dad and we cruised along for 10 minutes or so. I was feeling quite stiff but I soon loosened up and felt good.

A promising start.

Dad left and then at about the 30 minute mark it started to rain. It was light at first but then it started to get worse. The next problem was in the shape of a bridge that was blocked off. I recalculated the route and turned back to find another bridge. It was now chucking it down. I continued in the pouring rain until I found a bus stop shelter. I waited for 5 minutes and assessed the situation. I was about 45 minutes away from my destination. It can’t keep raining can it??

It did…actually it got worse. I was now completely soaked. My phone screen was very wet as well so I was struggling to use it. I was lost again so I decided to find a shop and get some paper towels. The kind fella in Carrefour, the local supermarche, supplied me with kitchen roll and some useful directions. I was lost again minutes later. I just followed my nose and went for it. After 10 minutes of aimless riding I found another shop! This time a lady working in a pharmacy came to my rescue. She explained the directions and then left the shop. I assumed she had gone for her lunch break but a minute later she was in front of me in her car! She drove slowly with her hazards on all the way to the turning. She sent me on my way. Thank you kind lady of the pharmacy!

She told me I needed to go though the next village and turn right and I’d be there! I didn’t understand this at the time…just the “turn right” part. I was lost again and the same process started. Find a dry place etc…I knew the road name but couldn’t find it. I went to the road I needed to take and turned back two times. I was like a yoyo, back and forth. Eventually, I got the phone to work and realised the error of my ways. I arrived at the campsite after biking 48 km in 2hrs 30mins. An extra 20km I didn’t need! It was eventful but that’s what makes the trip special. Time to get dry!

The view from the van at the campsite is lovely…the sun even popped out this evening!