Never take anything for granted. Normally we organize things thinking
about cycling for a week or so, and look for accommodation in a house through
the hospitable network of cyclists, Warm Showers. Ideally, a couple of days
rest, regain strength, wash clothes, cook yummy things, learn and share. When
we left Pierre and Stèphanie´s house, we wrote to an acquaintance who lives in
Montauban to stay for one or two days, and the response was positive. It was a
tough week, quite wet. The showers that fell those days were the kind that leave
you with wet feet and cold in your bones for the following days. Since we were
going to rest in Montauban, it did not bother us to go out of our way in those
conditions to visit Moissac and the surrounding villages that have suggestive
names. We even rode along a bit of canal, although we find them boring and
monotonous (but you have to try everything).
Our hostess had told us she wouldn´t get home until late and thank
goodness because we got lost in Montauban. When we're having dinner, we
realized that we had not made it clear in the request and we were only going to
be able to stay that night, so there would be no day of rest nor could we wash
clothes. But also our hostess starts work very early. We are surprised when she
says breakfast is at 6:30. An hour later we are in the street, under a good
storm, sitting at the entrance of a bank that has not yet opened, deciding what
to do with our lives. Just when our spirits begin to waver, we are approached
by a man with Indian features, attracted by our bikes loaded with packages. He
is an enthusiast of bike travel, but has never done any. He has devoured books
and stories by bloggers and other travelers who have filled his imagination
with extraordinary people and places. Despite the rain and fatigue he give us
the desire to continue the route which Pierre and Stèphanie had recommended,
one That crosses the plains of the Tarn and Garonne, and goes up the valley of
the Lot towards Conques.
Bad weather is with us, and the clouds open up upon us. The accumulated
fatigue, the smell of dirty and wet clothes, muscle discomfort, the prospect of
the next warmshower 400 km away... cause
negative thoughts. We have had arguments about authentic trifles.
Although by sound of the words appearing in this journal everything sounds
idyllic, travelling in pairs is far from pure harmony and understanding. When
we argue, I cannot go somewhere to read while Gabi stays watching TV; he has to
keep pedaling behind my backpack, or I have to continue following the scent of
his smelly socks. Both parties have to make an effort to restore normalcy and
the good mood of the previous days but once inside the spiral of negativity, it
is difficult to get out. We decide to make an exception and pay for a campsite
in Figeac, hoping that a little bit of comfort and a warm shower will help us.
In the evening we reached the peak of the crisis.
I'll tell you what happened to Chi for those of you who have followed
our stories only recently. Gabi and I have been together for about four
years. We don't have kids, but three
years ago we adopted a cat (I call him Chi, Gabi calls him Cuqui). Because I
spent a lot of time at home dedicated to the PhD, I have a very strong bond
with this animal. Those who know Chi, know this well. When we decided to make
this trip, we decided to leave Chi with Gabi's mother, who has four more cats,
and they all come and go when they want as the house is in the country. There
are indoor cats, but Chi loves the outdoors so we preferred that option, to let
him live happily running after in the
countryside at the risk that one day he might not come home. And that was
exactly what happened. A month after starting this trip, Gabi's mother called
to say that Chi had been missing for days. Today we still do not know where he
is. Tonight in Figeac I can not stop thinking about him. It tortures me that we
have shunned our responsibility to go on this trip and the consequence has been
losing our child. From this point of view, this adventure can not make up for
all that we have sacrificed to be here. I fall asleep in a sleeping bag soaked
in tears. To go back home now will not return to Chi to me. If I do not change
my attitude, then it is true that none of this will be worth it. The pain is
still there and will remain there for a long time (Sabina said 19 days and 500
nights). Outside, the rain continues.
With me, closer and truer than any conjecture, Gabriel is sleeping. For him, and for me, I
disconnect the vicious circle. The next morning Appears cloudy, but suddenly I find that a beautiful day. If smelly clothes, and bathe himself; if the tent
is wet, and it withered; if you have to climb mountains, top view sure is
beautiful: it is again the first day of our trip, and With That illusion awake
every morning since. We returned to the lot and Began the ascent to the plateau
Sauveterre and suddenly, what on paper looked so terrible, it makes little bit
and Also with pleasure. The landscape undulates and slopes are twisted around
the runways.
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