Day 6

Lunch on day 6 at 300 miles - just outside Le Grand-Bourg

First cycling stint from 8.45 - 11.15, Straight up very long steep hill, a bit of a rude start first thing! The skies were very grey, cool with light drizzle. A general impression that we are going higher up as the day progeses. The sun breaks though after 24 miles as we stop for coffee.... Pain au Chocolat, and an Orangina in Dun le Palestel.Just before reaching Le Grand-Bourg at 1.00 we passed our 300 mile mark. We stopped for lunch at a picnic site by an arched wooden bridge over the river. This morning saw our first hairpin bends, and downhill speeds approaching 64 kph, fully loaded with wine bottles whistling in the wind.15.30, finished steep climb up to Bourganeuf for refreshments, after 18 miles since lunch. Numerous stops along the way to maintain the suncream barrier against the increasingly hot sun.After Bourganeuf the character of the route changed dramatically. We entered a landscape of dense pine forest with steep, narrow roads, and huge valleys with big views. It took two gruelling hours to crank our way through the many hairpins, with a few spectacular downhill runs winding swiftly through the forest. We arrived at Hotel Golf de Limosin in Auphelle, overlooking Lac du Vassiviere at 17.50. First task was to flop out on the terrace with an immediate order for 5 beers. On examining the maps we realised that we started this morning at an altitude of 115 metres and we are now at 650 metres!No wonder we feel frazzled! 70 miles in total today. Simon