19. Day 11. 1st September 2013

Start Point: Verdun 1185'
Highest Point during the day: 1185'
End Point: Ludres 890'
Total Climbing 1660'
Climbing difficulty factor 43
Distance: 74 miles
Cumulative distance: 531 miles

Cycling is a lot like skiing - but without the chairlifts!
I thought that this morning as I was speeding down a half mile long road with sweeping bends and good views all around. But the difference at the bottom is you have lost all that potential energy and you have to work very hard to regain it. It almost gets to the point that you feel dismayed when you see the route ahead is downhill. You don't want to lose the height you've worked so hard to attain.

Last night I went out for a meal in Verdun. There was a lot to choose from, as my F1 hotel was in a commercial area with many retailers, the French equivalent of B&Q, KFC etc. Amongst the big retailers was Decathlon who sell sports goods, so a new bottle holder was purchased for 4 Euros:

Something else I spotted on my evening walk, was a coin operated car wash station, so before any proper cycling commenced on Sunday, I was at the car wash at 8.45 for a "lavage et rinse"
Here's my bike looking as good as new again:

The day was pleasant. A little cold at first. No breakfast taken at the hotel so during the first hour kept my eyes open for food. The supermarkets were of course closed on Sunday in France, but one village had a nice boulangerie with a queue to the door. Either it was very good or the only one around. After the two pain au chocolat, I would say it was good. As the sun started to take effect, the jacket came off at 11 and by 1pm I had 35 miles on the clock and time for another break.

Soon after that, a big milestone was achieved:

Yes, 500 miles since leaving Alsager, and a feeling now that I can definitely do this! Here's the map, blue dot me, red Wengen