Day 19 - More on singing, first thousand miles, into The Dordogne



18th April 2018

Sometimes a ride just goes better with a little sing song.  I used to feel the same urge when mowing the lawn but had to stop after complaints from neighbours.  Today's ride was very rural and so I was out of earshot.  I started by singing national anthems, a limited selection.  The French anthem was favourite partly on account of the bumpy road adding a very effective vibrato.  I then decided that it would help the cause if the song tempo matched my pedalling.  Being early in the ride, Plastic Bertrand "Ca Pleine Pour Moi" worked perfectly.  On resuming singing towards the end of the ride I needed to resort to Roberta Flack, "The first time ever I saw your face".  Unfortunately, by this point, Amazing Grace was far too brisk.

A wonderfully sunny and hot day started in the flat Les Landes but about two thirds through the ride there was a sudden change to hills, orchards, vineyards and pretty, old villages.  We had reached The Dordogne.  It also meant that we had completed our first one thousand miles!  We are now one fifth of the way there.

This evening we are parked up for the night in a car park in Monteton, a little hamlet which comes complete with a church, a castle and an auberge.  It is a beautiful spot to boot.  Jacqui came up the the goods once again, namely, a bottle of Montbazillac and an auberge reservation.








Comments

  1. Anonymous18 April 2018 at 10:01

    Hi enjoying reading this Martin keep cycling - maybe give the singing a rest- hope Jackie has had no further run ins with evil bakery products. Best wishes Helen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martin Bradley18 April 2018 at 12:29

      Thanks Helen, I try not to sing if there is anyone within a mile of me

      Delete
  2. H18 April 2018 at 13:07

    How about singing '1wheel on my wagon' we used to sing it on long car journeys- hopefully you'll always have 2 wheel on your bike !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Helen Blake18 April 2018 at 13:10

    That was me sorry Martin ! Or you could sing your way thro complete albums - starting with the first album you ever bought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martin Bradley18 April 2018 at 22:36

      That would be one of those "Top of the Pops' records. Perhaps not!

      Delete
  4. Helen Blake19 April 2018 at 02:33

    As you are in France how about singing songs by French artists ? So you could be Sasha Distell or Edith Piaf- though 'je ne regret riens may not be appropriate if you are struggling up a steep hill and questioning your sanity in doing this trip.

    ReplyDelete

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