The French Countryside

Ahh the Endorphins. I took last week off from the bicycle to rest. Rode Sunday -- remembered what it feels like to push yourself past where you comfortably want to go. The pain, the rush -- they are wrapped in together.

One of the things I like about riding my bicycle is that it takes me all over -- well the world now! I have been to beautiful places, seen things I would not have otherwise seen. I've riden along the coast in Carmel and Monteray California, all over Colorado, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, Tennesee, New York -- huh -- I have been all over.

Every place has its special beauty. Ohio is really quite beautiful as well. I have seen some spectacular places, views, cornfields stretched out for miles, rolling hills, beautiful lakes and etc. OK Akron and Toledo don't win any special prizes, but head out to the rural areas and you'll be quite surprised.

The Spanish country side was beautiful -- the fields of sunflowers are as stunning as the pictures. The centuries old buildings, farmhouses, stone fences, never ending fields -- wow. Andorra's constant mountains was -- well exhausting quite honestly!

But the French country side -- like a dream come true. I have watched the Tour for years -- all I know and imagine about French is probably from that! The commentary always points out features and history that the overhead helicopter is capturing. I think I've learned more European history than I did in school (either that or what Debbie fills in!).

Did you know:

That Perpignan is becoming the first 100% renewable positive energy city in Europe?

The city of Agde was founded in the 5th century by the ancient Greeks who named it Agathe Tyche or "Good Fortune".

Andorre-La-Vielle is a principality created in 1278 by its French and Spanish titular co-princes.

etc. etc.

As the race moves through villages and towns I've always looked closely at how the locals lived, the environment, how cool it would be to live there! Imaging the history, surviving the invasions, the wars, coming together as a community, the agricultural base. Fresh food, fresh air, history, beautiful architecture -- how could you not get excited!

But to be there -- to ride through these same villages, to see in person what I'd only seen on TV or imagined in my head -- wow! To ride by the couples, playing card, eating breakfast on their table waiting for the Tour to go by (hours later). As you pass through a village -- I was always struck by how close the houses/buildings are to the road -- just like it was on TV! Then 30 K down the road, after pastures, farmland and beautiful vista -- yep another village just off the edge of the road! I didn't see siding -- I saw concrete and stone, clay tile roofs. Few windows had glass -- only if they'd been modernized. They simply open the shutters and then the fresh air in (hopefully not the bugs!).

Some of their road signs are quite fun. There is one of just a cow. Yep -- just a pictograph of a cow. Their cows are free range you see -- you don't see many fences to hold them in field -- so you have to be quite careful as they'll just wander about the roads! My favorites are the signs in the city areas though -- happy people, holding hands and briefcases, as they dart madly across the road!

As different as the two continents are -- there are many things that are exactly the same. Farmers grow corn and wheat, raise cows and sheep. There are corner stores, chain stores, restaurants, gas stations. See if you can figure out where these photos were taken. How different are we? How much the same are we?

Anyway -- enjoy the photo's and when you watch the tour last year you'll fill a bit closer to each and every village and town!