J104 – 3/31/2006

The ground was soaked after yesterday’s storm but luckily there was a blue sky and sunshine when Serge left.  It was a very ordinary day, few encounters, scenery similar to yesterday’s: mountains, fields which already have been plowed, herds of goats and sheep.  The traffic was heavy and often quite dangerous, especially when the road has no shoulders.  The Iranian New Year’s holiday will finish Monday evening and many of the pilgrims who went to Mashhad will return to the capital.  Surely, traffic will be dense.
Yesterday evening and this morning the southwest of the country experienced a tragedy: a violent earthquake caused 2000 deaths.  Earth tremors are rather frequent in this country, especially in the South and southwest.

Serge had to cope with a succession of long straight uphills to Neyshabour, with a head wind.  He didn’t have a favorable wind until kilometer 62.  He resembled a reed bending in the wind, his torso bent forward and to the right.  Each stride seemed to be a struggle against an element stronger than he was.  At kilometer 65 he said “I’m on the brink of exhaustion.”  His face showed the signs of great fatigue.  He finished his stage walking the last 2 kilometers.  The swinging of his arms from left to right kept him in unsteady balance.

This evening after a good massage, Serge ate like a horse, enough to have a stomache ache and he fell asleep as soon as he was in bed.  A night of rest to recharge his batteries won’t be considered a luxury.

Happy Saint’s Day to all of you who are named Benjamin and most particularly to my nephew and godson, Benji.