Roadside refuelling.

In their spare time Russ and Neill save lives. They leave our hotels just after we do, they replenish stores from supermarkets, roadside fruit stalls and occasionally from cycle shops, they navigate along our route and search out quiet spots to set up our lunch stops, they make sure that the kettles are boiled (on Russ's BR filched Bullfinch Stove) before we arrive and that our individual food and drink requirements are catered for. Contrary to Chris's suggestion, Russ doesn't search out abandoned Industrial units in preference to Marina Car Parks at the side of the Canal du Midi, though even he will admit a preference to Primary School Car Parks (not to view the children but rather the "rather yummy" mothers that come with them.)
Our lunch stops are what make our long days possible and allow us to concentrate on our cycling. Today was a particularly hard day in the Pyrenees with a strong head wind to add to our challenge. Only 120km but it was colder and we all felt a bit jaded after a long day in the Languedoc heat yesterday. The Tourmalet is still closed with snow, so our route to Barèges will go over some minor cols and will be 50km longer than planned. Not quite the easy last day I was hoping for then.

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