Distance today = 47.60 km; Total distance = 17,772.66 km; Location = Hauterives – 45 15.266′ N, 05 01.385′ E; Start time = 0845, Finish time = 1701

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/283288461

Another day of very pleasant weather, which always makes for a pleasant day of running.

Our breakfasts for the past several weeks have consisted of muesli with yoghurt and honey. We didn’t have any yoghurt this morning because the supermarkets were closed yesterday. So Carmel drove me the 8 km back to my starting point for the day, and went ahead to buy some yoghurt. I would meet her in an hour or so for breakfast, when I ran past the hotel. At home, I always run before eating, and I have no trouble. However, because I’m used to eating first now, it took me only 2 km before I hit a point of low blood sugar. I was feeling very weak, and struggling with each step. Luckily it was only another kilometre to a shop, and I was able to buy a can of coke to get me through to breakfast.

After my muesli, I headed on to the town of Romans sur Isere, another of the 2000 year old settlements from this region. Four years ago, we stayed just outside this town, in a lovely old mansion. In front of the building were some blocks from a Doric column, being used as stools. Apparently, there are many such artefacts from the Roman days that are just lying around in fields, or being used as part of structures that were built long after the Romans departed.

The afternoon involved a long climb to the high point of the local region (I always seem to choose routes that involve climbing). I was surprised at what a good view I had. I could see clear over the nearer mountain ranges of the Vercors and Chartreuse, to the Alps themselves. They were a long way away, but their snow-capped peaks stood out like white beacons.

I’ll finish with a note about dinner last night. We were given a menu in English, and Carmel decided to order the sausage and potatoes, thinking this must be a French version of bangers and mash. Not so. The sausage (there was a single fat one) was filled with offal and large chunks of fat. Carmel couldn’t eat it, so gave it to me in exchange for some of my salmon. I couldn’t eat it either, so we effectively shared a single meal (her potatoes were OK, though). In general, the food here in France has been great, but there’s always a negative surprise waiting somewhere down the line.