AACHEN PARIS BIKE ADVENTURE: DAY 6 <- clicken Sie here ...

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Today we want to start early to make sure we reach Paris. We have about 70km left, at least that's what we estimate. Enthusiastically we leave our private beach behind and head South.

Our tempo is high today, somehow we are driven by the thought of Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. The bike hums like a well-oiled sewing machine as I push steadily into the pedals: Whrr whrr whrr. My eyes are tacked to Mario's back wheel and we roll in unison along the French countryside. I feel like a machine, a part of a train that is ceaselessly plowing forward: Whrr whrr whrr. Even though clothes are damp and my joins are aching, nothing matters right now, just the sound of the chain moving the bike: Whrr whrr whrr. I push forward towards Paris, getting closer with every turn of the crank. I am totally focussed.

My ass is sore, my wrists ache, my knees hurt, but I bite my teeth. "At one point the pain will subside", Lance Amstrong once said about the Tour de France. He is right: The pain will subside in Paris, and the anxiousness to reach our goal overpowers everything else. Just keep on going.

Rain showers

We pace along but are stopped frequently by rain showers. To pass the time we play cards huddling under small roofs. When are we going to reach our goal? We are already past our estimate of 70km for the day, but no city in sight, only the orange-yellow of wheat fields as far as the eye can see.

At last we find the Eiffel tower on the horizon: Barely visible it looks mighty far away. Now frustration builds up as my energies run lower and lower. We have no idea how far it could still be. To make matters worse we keep on getting lost trying to find a small road to lead us into the city, but the national road seems too dangerous in the mist and heavy traffic.

Our odyssee goes on and on, but at dusk we are finally standing in downtown Paris. At this point we have gone 115 km today, by far the longest day trip yet. it is still about 30 km to the camp ground, the Bois de Boulogne on the outskirts of the city. I decide that I've had it with camping out and deserve a hotel for the misery I've gone through. Mario of course wants to set up tent. I quickly find a small hotel, while Mario rides on to the camp site. We will meet again tomorrow.

Paris: We finally made it. I should feel relief, triumph, invigoration, but all I feel is exhaustion. All other emotions are drained. Shower. Clean clothes. Bed.

tags: adventure, bicyle, aachen, paris