Couches

I am now the only person at this camp ground. I'm trying to think of ways to take advantage of that fact but apart from charging my stuff I've got nothing. In fact, any mess I make can be directly traced back to me now so it is almost a disadvantage. No more reverse long bombs.

It is blisteringly hot again today. I have ridden for 6 days so on the seventh day (today) I'll rest. I think I'm the first person to think of that system. It's going to be hot again tomorrow too then I think it will cool off.

I went for a look around Couches. I think it is pronounced coo-shay. It is a charming town surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards.  I want to say it has that lovely mountain town feel but a) I've never been to a mountain town and b) there aren't any mountains here. But it has what I imagine that feeling is... Clear? It is a toss up between me and the bloke that served me at the shop for the title of least charming thing in Couches.

I went and had a look at the chateau this morning. The only way to go inside is as part of a guided tour, which is in French, that I had just missed. I wandered around the grounds instead. I was the only person there as well. Must be the smell. The castle is just outside Couches and sits part way down a ridge that continues past the town.

I did the unthinkable by sitting in the grounds and googling the chateau. There was nothing particularly interesting about its history. It was built in the 11th century to guard the road to Paris. Some rich people owned it but died so then some other rich people owned it, built some extra stuff, but you won't believe it, they died too. Then it got bought by a rich guy but it went into disrepair so some other people decided to restore it and run it as a tourist attraction. I've just described the history of every castle ever. Poor people don't own castles.

It was a very nice castle. I sat at a stone table overlooking the valley and had some lunch, took some photos and buggered off.

Now I'm trying to think what to do with myself for the rest of the day. I don't know what to do about my hair. It's gone half Jovi. I don't know whether to get a haircut or buy a headband. I've been having problems with sweat going in my eyes when I'm cycling so I think I'll just get a headband, embrace the 80s and go full Jovi. My cycling blog is about to become a steel horse riding blog.