we do not remember days, we remember moments: Sunflowers and Brie

The rain has stopped, at least since last night at around 2 am. We pitched our tent behind the Carrefour (in the same shopping center as McDonald’s, our office for a day) and hoped that the 20% chance of rain would lose to the 80% chance of no rain. We weren’t that lucky, but lucky enough that the sun came out in the morning, and the tent aired out in the time it took for us to eat some pain au noix with figue jam. Jesse tracked down a pair of black Asics running shoes on “Solde”, since his old shoes are probably still on a very smelly train heading to ???, and I was able to find the discount Grimbergen beer at the Carrefour.

The sound of cars slowing for the roundabout doesn’t bother me. The wind feels refreshing on my skin, as I sit in the tent with both doors zipped open. I can almost smell the lavender plants across the street that line the walk-way up to the hotel. 85 km on Bertetto today has left my legs paralyzed, aching, and asking for a rest. So I sit and type with the sleeping bags wrapped around me, and let Jesse do the cooking tonight (who am I kidding? he does the cooking most nights ;).

Summer is upon France. The little towns that aren’t even on our Michelin map are eerily quiet. Rain has turned into wind, which I hope will turn into sun. The sunflower fields were a nice sight today, even though their heads were bowed in sunshine anticipation, and the bright yellow sunflower tucked into the baby trailer acted as our tailwind during a short 25-miles-per-hour stretch to Lombez.

The sunflower fields appear static at first glance, but wait a moment…they are alive, waiting to show their faces to the sky like sun-starved cyclists. Tomorrow.

I can see the sunset in the distance. And if I turn my neck in a certain position, I can see the orchards on my right, and Jesse cooking ravioli for dinner to my left. “Oh wow. The gas ran out at the perfect moment—the ravioli have been boiling for exactly 6 minutes,” he just told me. Good. My legs need the protein.

dinner: pesto ravioli with jambon (ham)

Jesse just hand-delivered me baguette + brie + strawberry jam (a “brie sandwich” he calls it). And a ceramic cup-full of my discount Grimbergen beer. He is my angel.