June 20, 2011

Another day of clear blue sky and sun but this time with a strong, hot wind blowing. 

We aim today to reach Montpellier.  Rather than just pass through or go around the city like normal, we intend to actually stay in the heart of the city and meet up with two cycling friends, Anne and Dave, who have just cycled down from their home in Bristol.  We are only about 60 or so kilometres away so we think we should be there by mid-afternoon without too much problem. 

But that doesn’t take into account that we are a) cycling into a head wind b) cycling into an area where road signs are designed to send you round in circles c) cycling in an area which must have the highest concentration of motorways and road works on the planet and d) everybody in this region of France is in his car this afternoon and not in a good mood either.  It is absolute mayhem.  My text to Anne saying – “expect us mid-afternoon” – gets revised to “see you late afternoon” and then “see you early evening”.  The expected 60 km becomes 96 km and we are a bit fraught.  We are due to meet them at a hotel next to the railway station – of course, it turns out that there are two stations in Montpellier and we find our way to the wrong one to start with.  Eventually we do turn up at the right place and spend an enjoyable evening comparing notes on the joys of cycle touring.