Speed

I now fear recurring nightmares.

You know that nightmare where your legs are like lead, you try to run and you can’t. Well after 2 days on the VV, I’m certain that nightmare is going to switch from running to riding on the dreaded VV!

First let’s remember what we as men are supposed to do. We made to do three things. Fight in wars, hunt for food, and spread the seed. All three need speed. Ha-ha.

Faster is better, that’s why men love fast cars, boats, guns, etc. It’s all about speed. As an example when Eth and I were driving back from Montana one time, I told him every time he went faster than 70 mph I would yell at him. So he would try to get it below 70, but then when a car passed him, he subconsciously sped up and would end up at 75. He couldn’t stand to see another car go faster. It’s in our genes.

Which brings me back to the VV. You kind of get going, you can push bit for awhile, but then you hit a rough spot, or there’s some mud, or there’s too much sand, or the slight incline is getting you, it sucks you in, it saps your mojo, you think you can downshift and pick it up again, and it works for awhile, but then there’s that sandy patch, or there’s some bumpy grass, or you have to slow for a gate, or there’s horseshit in the path; it always wins, you downshift again and before you know it you’re doing 6-8 mph. Sigh, you can’t beat it, it’s like fighting water or walking in deep sand; slowly, inexorably it drags you down . It’s like the twilight zone. It sems normal but you know something is wrong. You can’t escape it. As a man, bred for speed, it’s a nightmare.

But April loves it. So all is well. But even she got a little tired of it today (although she won’t admit it).

Anyway we finally finished our two days on the VV. We’re now in Morlaix on the northern coast.

Not much to report on the actual ride. We bought our lunch at a small market. Bread, boursin, peanuts, prunes, fruit. Sopped at one of the deserted train stations, had lunch on some picnic tables. I got our first flat of the trip at lunch somehow. Then we had an 8K uphill, which prompted the rant above. But then we had about a 10K downhill. We ere pedaling it this time (as we wanted to get to Morlaix) and we were moving pretty fast (15-20mph). You can’t go much faster because it’s to rough and sandy.

Pulled into Morlaix, our B+B is in another old manor house. It’s gorgeous. About 200 yrs old (kind of new) and very French. We walked down to town for a nice dinner. April had a scallop/leek app, then a white fish. I had a salmon app, and lamb chops/ratatouille. Then we split a vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and baked apple kind of thing for dessert.

Talked to Chels and Eth today. Chels - happy birthday. Eth is off with POC shopping in London. Wanksters.