Day: May 17, 2006

Heat record!

The sun was shining in the morning and the day started with a 10 kilometer climb to an altitude of 1740 meters.  The pain in Serge’s rib became unbearable and at the second feeding we applied a bandage, just before a long, 50 kilometer descent, which led us to Toksun, almost at sea level.  The scenery was sumptuous and Thomas and François were delighted.  Sand dunes among the mountains sent us into ecstasies.  The distant horizon blended with the sky and gave us the impression of being in an ocean of earth rather than water.  At the 60th kilometer, we were plunged into a furnace: on the sunbathed road the temperature was 51° Celsius.  Serge was bright red.  His average heart beat per minute for the day rose to 101, instead of the normal 96.  He wet his hat at every feeding.  It was no use hoping for a bit of shade, there was none.  We had the good fortune to find a small hotel in Toksun that had air conditioning. It enabled us to recharge our batteries in the cool.  Serge is exhausted this evening and he hurts all over.  The least movement makes him wince.  He called his parents because he hadn’t had news from them for some time.  Serge is too modest to complain or moan and too conscious of being there by his own choosing.  What better comfort than to hear the voices of his dad and mother.