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Published: December 12th 2009
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nogent
Famous castle near Nogent I was only about 40 kilometers from my destination.
After hours in Parisian traffic, I finally broke loose on a wet and darkening day. Though I'd intended to take the smaller, country roads, when I saw the freeway in my direction I tightened up my ropes and bit my lip.
I filled up my tank at the mid-sized town of Chartres around 4:30pm, and the wind was picking up.
Filling up with my luggage isn't easy. All my things are tied together on top of the seat, and on a Vespa the gas tank is underneath the seat. That means I must balance the bike, while lifting the 80lbs of luggage, WHILE using the fuel pump. I'm pretty good at it now, but it took some practice. I still prefer to fill up prior to adding my gear.
I zipped my leather jacket tighter around my neck while I crossed plain after plain, and watched the light green fields fade to shaded mush.
It was getting cold. I'd hoped to reach Bonnetable by 6:30, and I called my hosts to confirm that I was off schedule. "A storm is brewing. It's getting pretty bad," Christine warned.
Another hour later, and the rain was coming down so hard it made metallic noises as it ricochet off my helmet. My hands were shaking. I tried to drown out the frightening sounds with louder music, but I couldn't find the dexterity in my hands - now stained black by the wet leather in my gloves - to raise the volume.
Was that the sign I was looking for? Yes! I think so. Tourner a droit. No wait, this can't be right.
Ahhh! It's so cold! Let me pull over and look at the map. Damn paper map, it's sopping wet. Here. Under the streetlight. Hands shaking. Can't hold it still enough to read it.
Okay, this isn't working. There! There's an apartment looking building. I'll sit in the overhang and read the map.
Okay. I really can't tell. I'm going back to that intersection to have another look. Helmet so fogged I can't see at all. Glasses completely fogged, can't see with them, not working.
I'm going to have to put my glasses away and ride without them, too much trouble.
Can't see well without my glasses at night. God this is so hard.
YES! Now I'm going the right way. Just three more kilometers to Nogent-le-Rotrou, then I just need to take the road around the West side of the city, and it's only another 40 kilometers. Excellent!
Damn it's cold. Cold cold cold. Ah, great! We're in Nogent!
I'm so ready to be done with this ride, it's not even funny. Can't see very well.
Now, just take this road and. WHOA!!! Where are the street lights? It's hard enough with this wind, but I don't have my glasses, and it's raining so hard! Ah, so... much... rain... can't see the lines in the road.
Is there one lane or two? Is this my lane or the oncoming lane? I really can't tell...
OH GOD!!! There's a car coming right at me!!
To be continued...
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jessica graham
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AMAZING adventure!!
you must be having the time of your life, i do realize that you are cold, and wet but i can only dream about all the things you are discovering about yourself ind France! this is an experance that you will be able to reflect on for the rest of your life!!! i am so happy for you!! i am very lucky that our paths crossed so that i can here all about you and your travels... thank you! Jessica!! p.s. eat as much as you can, and as often as you can! enjoy what the land there has to offer you!!!