Skim vs. France - Thursday - Day 6

Although the day started off wet and cold I wanted to get on the road early as I was camping in quite an exposed place that was also too close to residences for my comfort. I haven't mentioned it thus far, but sleeping at night has been a problem for me but I did have quite a full nights sleep which I think quite lifted my mood. I don't quite know when I became a light sleeper, I certainly didn't used to be but I most certainly am one now! I think that fact that I'm sleeping on patches of ground that I shouldn't be combined with the fact that some of the fields have been near to trafficked roads, whilst I have been able to keep my tent from the head lights (most recommended) the noise of the car passing on the road is louder than you think, especially when all that's separating you from that noise is the thin membranes of the inner and outer tent.Still up and onwards!

I accomplished a comfortable seventy miles today; comfortable for the fact that the wind direction was now a juicy tail wind making a solid six miles an hour difference to my average speed, which granted doesn't sound much but spread over a day allows you the comfort of longer breaks and feeling not the least bit stressed when you check the map for the hundredth time that day. I did notice, well I should say my derriere noticed that the road surface isn't as pleasant as my earlier experiences. My prostate feels as though its gone nine rounds with Mike Tyson and still has to face another three. Another couple of days and I should've reached the west coast past Bordeaux having thoroughly earnt myself a rest day.

Today's extended lunch was demanded by my kit that needed a good drying out and the fact of a thankful tail wind was made a delight not just because of the high grade food but because I was allowed to observe a falcon hunting for its lunch, deftly hovering before plunging to strike and return. A joy to watch it hunt for just over an hour or so, come to think of it I have been rather spoilt for wildlife thus far; boar, deer, birds of prey by the butt load, all kinds of funky insects and smaller mammals. The French countryside is chocked full of the good stuff! Though I have to say I've definitely done farmland, the scenery hasn't really changed since I've arrived, and whilst it has been a pleasure to ride seeing mile after mile of massive fields in various states of growth and harvest it does get a bit samey. Mind I did get to cycle through France's main apple growing region today, might've foraged me up a selection of choice apples which I'm pretty sure were going to spoil if I didn't liberate them; bring on the coast and mountains!