A Stiffy first thing in the Morning

Great night. Good spirits all round. The Goon Show:

 

Another night sleeping in a stone plinth! Just who manufactures beds that hard? So, not a good nights sleep, but otherwise the hotel was fine.  Breakfast was the usual fare of coissants & bread & jam, but was also good. 

I set off in wet kit, having got it washed yesterday evening, but not dried. Turned out to be quite a good move as the sun did shine and the temperature did rise and the road did immediately go UP very stiffly! About a mile at 10%, with an occasional 15-20%, just to be really nasty. Then it was straight down and repeat. Nice 😩

It turned out to be a jagged route on very quite rural roads down to Albi. Nice looking town, especially in the sunshine 😎. 

 

 

Coffee & cakes in Albi gave us (almost) the necessary energy for the long climb out. Another tough one. South on the D71 got us to Realmont, where the complete absence of a cafe was both surprising and disappointing. It was at this juncture that Neil split off from us, wishing to take the soft (sensible) option of the flatter run into Castres on the main road. He's been suffering with a very sore 'twernt' due to his aging saddle resembling a small anvil. PPPPPP 😜😉

We attacked (laboured) over another sawtooth profiled road, stopped briefly at a crap little bar in Roquecourbe (no food) and quickly moved on a few km into the centre of Castres. We stopped in the town square and ate savouries & cake bought from a Patisserie. Alright though. 

Then it was on to our Chambre D'Hotes just outside of Labruguiere.

 

 

Proper rural setting with a very welcoming hostess who gladly washed our cycling kit. Brave woman 😖

Due to the slightly isolated location, we'd booked our evening meal there, so after sorting ourselves out and getting little r&r, we dined with our hosts. A very nice meal & vegetarian to boot. Now to sit back and watch the footy...........🙄