verte vallé côté gauche

Serge au milieu, pont puis tunnel

verte vallé côté droit

Encore quelques kilomètres

pause d’une jardinière

joile courbe pour un coureur!

à petite foulé

le vert éblouissant d’espoir….en des temps perturbés au Liban et ailleurs

D214 – 71.1Km

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19
N31 40.059 E130 52.378 (371 m) – N31 59.334 E131 19.598 (50 m – Kunitomi)
71.1 km – 10H26′
There was rain at departure and it continued all morning.  This gray, rainy weather is good for Serge.  We are getting to like the rain and clouds, which don’t force us to cover up because the temperature is 27° Celsius.

Most of this stage was run in the country and we went through only one city of importance, at the 20th kilometer, Mayakonojo.  From there, Serge followed a valley along the Ooyodogawa River.  There were many bridges on this route and lots of vegetation which covered the whole color range of green.  We have begun to head northeast to reach the Pacific coast.

Serge regularly applies ice to his tendon.  He puts several ice cubes in his sock and repeats the operation every 8 kilometers.  Feedings only take place every 4 kilometers and today he doesn’t have to wet his head.

This evening we learned that a typhoon devastated the region of Hiroshima, where we will be before long: 8 dead and 12 missing — roads were cut off.  We caught the tail end of the typhoon with today’s rain.  We hope we will miss these storms, which are of a rare violence, even though it is typhoon season.  We are keeping an eye on the weather forecast.

Tonight, Ludovic arrived.  He has come to give a hand with feedings, which to now have been the responsibility of Eliane and Laure.  They have shared the day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Our Super Grannie, Eliane, has become accustomed to driving on the left.

During this summer period, life continues and one day follows the next, with the same program.  The countries, the people, the colors, the odors are different.  This progression is the only marker of time we have, we aren’t even aware of the change of seasons, the vacations which are in full swing in France.  We receive news thanks to the daily messages we receive.  We aren’t completely cut off from what is going on in the world, nor are we indifferent to news such as the bombarding of Israeli and Palestinian soils.  We think about all the civilians and all the people who suffer from these wars, which are linked to power and to a handful of leaders.

English translation by Lee Hecht