Montlouis, France - July 1, 2018

Drill, baby, drill? Bike, baby, BIKE!
Kelley and I are in the process of answering life’s biggest questions here in France.
This morning, we started cycling at about 9:30. After grabbing a sandwich and coffee at a bakery, we headed toward the city of Tours. The morning ride was delightful, flat and relatively cool.

We followed the main route down le Cher River, a tributary of the Loire. I was immediately interested in taking a swim. After searching for a short while, we found an entrance spot close to the trail. Over the years, skinny dipping rivers and lakes has become a favorite pastime.

On the way into Tours, we stopped by an outdoor gym and tested ourselves on the dip and pull up bars. Slow reps are the key.
A grocery store presented itself a short distance into the city. After days of overeating sweets at French bakeries, I have decided to change my diet for the better; a carrot, apple and salad were purchased. We ate our lunch on the stair of a neglected side street. The chorus of Metallica’s "Enter Sandman" was clarified while a departing car crushed an empty Coke can. I think things are beginning to take a turn for the better.

At the city center, we stopped in at a restaurant for the second half of Spain vs. Russia. The ugly game ended, to our dismay, with a Russian win on penalty kicks. A young boy exited the establishment in tears.
Pedaling down the street, we lost the route. Highs and lows are more pronounced when traveling.
Before leaving town, we watered up outside the city’s massive cathedral and, a block later, stopped in at a bicycle shop. I had it in mind to purchase an iPhone clamp for my handlebars, giving me the option to DJ music on the ride. I paid a little more than I wanted to, but was able to find an attachment that fit my phone.
As evening came on, I selected The Beach Boys’ "Endless Summer" album. I know that we touched a few human hearts cycling those last few kilometers to the campsite.