Birt: 20.05.2017
Today, as predicted, the weather was good for cycling. Not too warm (max. 16°), sun and clouds alternating, and dry. Only sometimes the wind was a bit bothersome.
Since I booked a slightly "better" hotel, there was a "proper" breakfast today with scrambled eggs, fried bacon, and fried sausages. The usual breakfast offering consists of baguettes, croissants, butter + jam. Rarely, there is cheese and/or slices of ham. Although there is always plenty, the selection is limited. Since I always have breakfast in accommodations, I don't know what it really looks like at a French family's house. The relevant literature describes that breakfast in France doesn't matter. "Le petit dejeuner," the term for breakfast, also includes the term "small." What did I actually want to say? ...
Oh yes, when I look around while having breakfast, the French person usually takes one to two croissants, a coffee (to dip the croissants in), a glass of juice, and is about twice as fast as me. Exceptions confirm the rule.
Today's route continued along the "Canal du Centre." For the first 20 km, you had the choice to ride on the moderately busy D974, which runs directly along the canal, or to take even less traveled country roads, with several uphill sections and about 4 km more. I stayed on the road along the canal, and since today is Saturday, the car traffic was limited. Then there was another bike path along the canal, which was also quite pleasant to ride on. As expected, there were more cyclists and training groups due to the weather. Houseboats are also slowly starting to move more. In my accommodation for today, the canal crosses the Loire with an impressive structure.
20-05-2017
Distance Traveled: 52.88 km
Total Riding Time: 3:17:08
Average Speed: 16.1 km/h
Max Speed: 32.5 km/h
Total Elevation Gain: 13 m
Overnight stay in Digoin