Day 5 Poihes to Homps   30 Miles Running total 90

For those using ridewithgps here is todays route https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42290037?privacy_code=TlXGuoPvHFUQqfbr

We awoke to the sound of rain. Not somthing we planned or wanted this far south on the trip. Two weather Apps both say it should dry up at around 10 am, so we will drag breakfast out, which we share with a French Family hosting an Australian student.

The weather app is correct, and the rain stops, so off we set. The first section of the towpath is a good level surface, but then it suddenly changed and became very muddy, requiring several stops so we could clear mud out of the mudguards. My compatriot found a perfectly shaped stick that she is now carrying with her. Thankfully, after 3 miles, the towpath became a stone chipped surface again, but we had to cycle into a very strong 35 MPH headwind as the canal weaved its way around the contours and over many interesting aqueducts.

We meet a French couple coming from the opposite direction, both covered in mud. They tell us that last night’s rain has made the towpath unusable for bikes and advised us that we should use a road, or that’s what we thought they said. We followed their advice, and when we met the canal again, a very muddy cyclist appeared, saying the last couple of miles of mud had ruined his schedule. We quietly thanked the chance meeting that had saved us from that experience.

We had been recommended somewhere for lunch about halfway on today’s journey by the French family at breakfast. It was closed! Undettered we used Google, who showed another restaurant close by, but this was also closed. We are therefore thankful for yesterday’s apple and orange, which we eat in the sunshine.

Although the surface was better for the remaining 15 miles, the wind was not, so it was a hard slog to the end of our journey.

On arriving at tonight’s hotel, we were greeted with a glass of champagne, which we drank in our dirty cycling gear on the patio of the hotel. I must have made a mistake when booking this because it has given my compatriot thoughts about other types of holidays.

Last night Thomas from this hotel had messaged me to ask if we would like to eat a meal in the hotel. As Homps is a small place and the weather looked unsettled, we accepted. We were so pleased we did because it was an excellent meal with the residents of the other 4 rooms who had had their flights cancelled due to a French air traffic control strike and had to stay an extra night.

They should have cycled home as they are now having to get a taxis to an airport in Spain to avoid French airspace.