Penguins Bike

July 2, 2026 - biked 13 km (8.3 mi) - biked 632 km (393 mi) total

Because the wind was so brutal yesterday, we took a surprise rest day. We'd previously asked Claude where we should spend a rest day in France, and it unexpectedly suggested Narbonne. So here we are living up its dreams. It is nice to explore a town that isn’t as well known.

We also loved our two star campsite. It was nice to stay again. We got to order chocolate croissants and baguettes in the evening to be ready in the morning.

France, similar to Spain, has 5 star campgrounds equipped with pool, water slides, restaurants, supermarkets, mini golf courses, tennis courts, cosy bungalows with everything you would find in a hotel, bike rentals, beach access, etc., all of which is too much for two bikers and a penguin.

We saw the most beautiful cathedral I’ve ever seen. We also saw these old Roman ruins underground. It served as a warehouse/market for grains. We had a great time walking around. It was nice to be tourists somewhere less touristy, but that still wanted people to visit.

Rob, our friend in Portland, told us to catch a Spain game. Even though I tried to make it happen, the schedules never lined up while we were in Spain. But this evening, we did see Spain play against Austria in a bar full of French people with only one other person watching the game. I missed all three goals scored and had the half the screen blocked by a group of guys slowly getting drunk. I guess he meant to watch Spain play in Spain.

July 1, 2026 - biked 87 km (54 mi) - biked 618 km (384 mi) total

If day 8 was all hills then today is all wind. Open your mouth and just focus on exhale because the 45+ mile winds will force air and expand your lungs. If that seems invasive, it’s because it is. Today was beautiful but entirely miserable. We biked so much but also required twice the effort.

We left our little 200 sq ft apartment at 11:15am and arrived at our campsite at 8:15pm with only a few stops for food, water, bathroom, and surprise grave yard.

How to describe the wind.

I almost fell several times. David ran into the curb by the wind. I literally was pushed backwards by the wind while standing. We had to walk up one overpass and pedal hard to even get down the other side.

Biking over rocks with the wind was the worst because you swerve one way to avoid the rocks but a gust of wind could magnify that swerve and you go off the path.

It was brutal.

It took every ounce of mental and physical strength to forge on. In the morning, the ride was so assaulting and my mental space was not great. I went over the interview in my mind, that I had initially thought I nailed, wishing I had answered some questions differently. I thought for sure I wasn’t going to get the job and I knew exactly why. I tried some meditation and non-attachment style thinking. I tried thinking positive thoughts about me getting the job until at some point the wind pummeling my mind numb.

C'est la vie.

…all you can hear is the wind mile after self-defeating mile. So much effort to go so little. I’d take the heat and hills over the wind. The wind is erratic. Like we hear people say, “Ok, sometime turn off the wind machine!”

However, it can be cleansing in a way. Nothing securely strapped or necessary will be stripped away violently.

About mile 30, a text came through from the assistant principal. I borrowed some wifi from this one nice lady but couldn’t get a hold of her. I anxiously checked my email and texts. Until I stopped mid-road next to a beautiful canal, and read that I got the job! I screamed, I jumped, I kissed, I cried. When you’re biking and exposed to all the elements all your emotions are right beneath the surface. You have very little energy to filter or keep your mask up.

I kept fist pumping the air after I started biking using this adrenaline to keep going.

The wind kept whooshing loudly in my ears for the next 24 km we had to bike. It lulled me and all I wanted to was to be off this bike and at the campsite.