Journal /
fellow bikepackers
This week I’ve come across the first bikepackers. Two of them have been Dutchmen who are following part / the whole of the same route as I am at the moment. Ended up cycling half a day with both of them on separate occasions.
I’m finding that the social encounters I have been having are striking a perfect balance for my needs. They happen often enough not to give way to the feeling of loneliness.
I would say I am having an honest and more personal encounter every few days or so, and meeting people every day for lighter chitchat about my bike and where I am going.
The scenery has definitely changed. Trees, as an example, have started to take shapes I’m not normally used to seeing. Houses have started to be more white, and there seem to be fewer clustered villages than I’ve been used to seeing till this point in France.
Everything is starting to look more Mediterranean, and that includes the people.
There have been 2 very intense days of climbing which, to my recollection, might be the most difficult climbs I’ve ever had. After each bend in the road, you expect the incline to stop because you can’t seem to see any more hill. But on it goes.
It’s nothing I can’t handle, and I’m enjoying it. Mostly because they come with the most satisfying descents.
One night we experienced rain and thunder for some time in the evening. It was a great test to see if my new tent would hold up. It kept dry, and the inner and outer tent stayed severely separated, which is a good sign. Only the next morning, when packing up the tent, I discovered some water had leaked on top of the ground tarp. However, it had not penetrated the tent.
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