Jo Ackroyd’s Big Biking Adventure

Left the pairofknees this morning, traditionally late at 10am and ran through the small roads of southern france. Thank goodness its sunday and the roads are quiet because it became quite a task to do 500km. At 5to 5 i was at the cave i missed on the way down hoping to get in. They closed 6minutes before i got there as the clock on the bike was 10minutes slow! They open at10am tomorrow so i headed to rocamadour about 12km away. This is the number two rural tourist spot and as i entered there was an end of season festival on and around 20 hot air ballons were taking off from the valley below the chateau. Camping in france is now out of the question as their season is over, very short season huh? Talking of seasons, i noticed today the trees are begining to shed and it reminded me of when i set out in april just as they were bursting into life and my journey was begining. It seems fitting now that as my journey ends, or at least part of it, that the trees begin to shed as summer closes and autumn begins. So to a hotel, but with the festival the only room was 109euro, nice though, and the restaurant minimum was four courses. I asked for a beer and felt like a naughty school boy!
I sat atop the ramparts of the chateau to watch an incredible show of colour as the sun went down. A meloncholy mood has hit today, it feels like an ending, made more significant by the lonelyness of life. Thoughts of home and back to life normal and ordinary, beaten by each day yet to come. I must remember to read my diary, to remember how life has been and could be again, maybe its time to plan adventure part three. The caves tomorrow then a marathon journey home. The red bull to keep me going will no doubt change my mood. See you all in a day, winter is just 24hours away for me, physically and emotionally.

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