Another short day as my legs are finding different things to entertain themselves with. Firstly a small ache in the left before it jerks a little and then tentatively reaches out. The right one tries to role model what a good leg should do but the left seems unable to be taught. The first 7 kms are okay but after that both legs slow down, so I try to do sharp bursts and yes that is all they are. Around 10 they both start to quit and 13 marks the end of the road. 

So, if we haven’t reached a home, we catch a train to the nearest sleep town and then work out the next strategy. Tis helpful that we have a train line but that runs out soon. A bit disappointing but that’s life, and we’ll watch closely for any changes. More industrial sites today and a busy main road wasn’t the best place for photos but our new photo deposit scheme doesn’t want to post more than one anyway.

We were passed by an older German couple, had a short chat to two older Swiss and a young American boy, then a short walk with a jovial Frenchman. A bit of trivia about these meetings had me thinking of previous encounters with these nationalities. Quite often the greetings are shortened to morgen, morning, dias, but not the French, can you imagine saying jour?

A short 50 metre walk from the station to our lovely room, where a delightful and gregarious woman greeted us at her accommodation and, as she talked, she did what many locals do. As they talk,  they’ll reach out and touch your arm, or stroke your face, creating a close and friendly environment which is very relaxing amidst a possible cultural or linguistic clash. Off to our room now to plan tomorrow’s tactics. Night.