Day: October 26, 2009

Alt 330m
Average heart beats per minute 102
Elevation gain 2110 meters

 75.5km – 10H02’
Good evening everyone,
Our early morning departure is fast and animated.  At 7:30 AM the sun comes up and a fair sky leads us to believe the day will be beautiful.  After running the stage yesterday Pascal is back waiting for Serge.  The countryside is not far from the center of Caen and at the 7th kilometer Serge reaches Eterville. The departmental Route 8 has heavy traffic and no shoulders.  It’s only when we near Aunay sur Odon that the traffic thins and the landscape becomes hilly.  It’s 11:30 AM.
The scenery in the autumn sunshine is magnificent with colors from green to ochre and  with a slight mist to soften the effect.  For us, the team, going from one valley to another we are able to take in some lovely panoramas which Serge seems not to notice because he is concentrating on his effort
Nevertheless, Serge does notice the change in the style of houses.  As we approach Vire we see homes built of granite. “Brittany is near”.  This is a surprising observation for someone who seems to run with his head down.
There are several encounters as we approach Vire, as seen in the photos. Serge and Laurent from Villers Bocage Endurance 14 helped swell the ranks, Eric Fabiola and their 2 girls joined the bunch around Evrecy.  This whole group finished the stage, even Pascal who stopped his race but who followed the group closely.  And there were surprise encounters such as Roger (a supporter of the HAC – Havre Athletic Club) and Brigitte, neighbors of ours who went to see the soccer match in Guingamp and Gilles, the cyclist with his 300 prizes.
We arrive in Vire, a pretty town with the beautiful « Door of Vire » in front of which everyone strikes a pose.  And this trip through the capital of sausages would not be complete without a tasting of the local specialty:  on this evening’s menu Andouille from Vire!
In spite of an elevation gain of 2150 meters Serge retains a good average.  If his face shows his fatigue there is nothing like a “very personal” letter written by 7 year old Anne Rose and her sister, Lisa Marie, who ran the last 3 kilometers with Serge to lift his spirits.