I was clearly in quite a grump today. I wonder if it's possible to get that Monday feeling when not at work? Maybe it was because I had to wait for a shop to open to buy some milk to eat my breakfast (late breakfasts always lead to great irritability!). Maybe it was because I realised that next Monday, I will be on the Bike Bus heading home and my amazing adventure will be over. I need to keep this somehow in my everyday life. Maybe it was because of storm after storm rumbling through. I know I definitely blamed the hills for part of my grump! Where on earth are the flat bits? I've earned them now and just want some easy riding. Instead I'm swearing my head off slogging up ascent after ascent. All I could see on my map were chevrons. Is there no end to the hills? Aaaggghhh!!!
So I decided to call it a day when I reached Laon after just 20 miles. I'm not on a clock or racing, I can do as I choose and be flexible. Laon is a big town and therefore has facilities and a campsite. The town is so big, in fact, that it was a further 7 miles before I reached the campsite at the other side of town. The grump was deepening! No shops, no cafes & I didn't pass anything helpful en route as I was on some sort of ring road which was also being dug up & resurfaced at the time.
I even had a grump putting my tent up. I can't get most of the pegs in. The ground is so hard as most campsites now cater for motorhomes and caravans so nice grassy pitches for tents are becoming more scarce.
If I was going to have a grump, I was going to do it properly! I never do things by halves!
Then the heavens opened & I dived into the tent. Then I laughed! Tension released. At least I'd got the tent up. Another thunderstorm had arrived. I got everything set up in the tent and then promptly fell asleep for the next hour. So the true reason for my grump is probably that I'm just a bit knackered!
The sun was shining when I woke up. The campsite sells lollies and I spotted a Magnum which I thought would cheer me up. I ate this with the most perfect chin-dribbling peach. Yum! And I'm consulting my maps to get out of here as early as possible tomorrow, whatever the weather. I have milk at the ready for breakfast!!
Get well soon to Mary who is recovering from the human version of foot and mouth. Thank you Laetitia for letting me know even when you're on holiday. And happy holidays in the beautiful Savoie region :-))
Janny, I can't think of a better way to celebrate than with pink champagne when I'm back! I'll have to get some of this Tramadol out of my system first, it's sending me doo-lally!
Mum, Charlie, glad the decorating went well...or did it?! Was too much of the champers you found consumed?!!
And just to add, the Vaude Customer services team responded to my broken tent pole issue immediately this morning. What service!
I'll be in a much better mood tomorrow (I hope!).
Tally ho until then!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on O2
Just on a public health note and before I get banned from Yorkshire: I'd like to make it clear that I have had 'hand, foot and mouth' virus which is a human virus, and is not related to the animal 'foot and mouth' disease other than that the people who named both of these illnesses clearly had NO imagination whatoever. 'Hmmmm, where are the symptoms, on the hands feet and in the mouth? What shall we call it then?'
ReplyDeleteThanks Andi for your get well wishes and I've sorted a visit to t and family later this week :o)
Enjoy your last week on the road (for now...!!) I know you'll make the most of it! When you get back can you continue your blog as it always makes me hungry - peach and Magnum.... mmmmm!
Mary
x
Hi Andi
ReplyDeleteThe weather in Yorkshire is just the same without the sunshine! :O)
The adventure still sounds amazing and you will have memories for life.
You must have fantastic muscles now with all the cycling. You must have downhills soon with all the uphill cycling!
Looking forward to meeting up when you get back.
Love
Mandie
Morning Daughter,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if yesterday was a bad day for you. I hope today is much better.When storms are about i think it makes us twitchy, good job you had your tent up and running before it started raining.
I hope you get some up side down hills today then you won't have to worry about the climb! Quite right about the grump no point in half measures full speed ahead is always best.
We have arrived at carpet day! I have all windows and doors open very close and muggy, i hope no one wants me to move!!
The lounge is so full of furniture i can hardly find a space to walk, it will be lovely to get the Dining room finished and everything back in place.
The bathroom is ready for it's new floor as well. It took me ages to get all my smellies out of the cabinet as you can imagine! But a brave foot forward and i achieved the impossible!
When the fitters have gone i will try and take a picture of the rooms then you can see what they look like.
Did you see the blog with the travel details to come down to us?
Take care and have a lovely day
Lots of love
Mum xx
There was a bit in the news yesterday about a research/survey concluding that the Monday blues was a myth and the day was no different from the rest of the week. Seems like the perfect definition of counter-intuitive to me! Charlie x
ReplyDelete