I’m eating at a tapas bar in a tourist town, Via, after riding much of the day through wetlands and preplanned retirement communities. I think this might just be a slightly nicer version of Florida, with golf carts replaced for bikes. That might read as disparaging but it’s really quite wonderful.
I got a late start, all because I’m trying to eat more. I was on the road at 10 AM. Immediately after leaving Les Barcares I was following an ill used gravel road next to the high-speed rail line in Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise en Méditerranée.
Shortly, after following some strong headwinds I found myself following a canal path. Some of the best riding so far. I stopped for lunch along the way. Even the bagged croissants in France are great.
I passed through some smaller towns many with the ever repeating planned community and four star campground with water slides and mini golf.
And yet I continued. I followed some back roads through agricultural areas all with foliage well above eyesight.
Everywhere there were retired couples cruising around on bikes. I liked that. They all said bon jour, and I think if my French was better I could have extracted a stay out of this older gentleman who engaged me in an actual two full minutes of pantomime. Practice need. I think I’ll listen to a language learning something in a headphone (which I don’t typically wear, the physicality is meditative enough).
The day ended with me overshooting my intended destination by two miles as I followed a messmerizing canal path (Canal du Midi?) and having to back track. In a different life I could see myself as a crotchety person who lives by himself in a canal boat. There is still time.
Along the way I passed Europark, which while similar to other beach amusement locations I passed had more grandiosity to it. I did see a mini gokart jetski equivalent which was a first for me.
An eerie component is, that while the weather has been nice everyday, everything is empty and most things closed. I suppose it’s just not the season but it is very jarring although probably good for my pocketbook.
Miles came easy today. It was flat.