Life under confinement (lockdown) in France is limited to travelling no more than 1km from your home (simply put.) This is what it looks like when you draw it on a map! It’s a bit like living ‘Under the Dome’ only without the crazy story lines.
So how does one make the most of the precious hour of exercise with only 3.14sq km to play with? Oh, I should mention that we’re not allowed into the parks or forests! It’s time to make the most of BEING ALLOWED TO RIDE A BICYCLE FOR EXERCISE! (what a concept, eh?!)
In our village that leaves a few roads and one nice gravel track skirting along the edge of the forest.
In these times you make the best of what you have to hand. Incredibly I came up with an 8km loop mostly on tarmac but with a great gravel grind to take me away from the roads. And to give it a little pep there are three ‘drags’ (gentle longish hills) to make the legs burn on each lap. Perfect!
I did get the impression that the message about being allowed to cycle hasn’t made it round the houses, yet. This is despite the Conseil d’Etat ordering the government to make a public announcement about the ruling! I think it will be ‘interesting’ to run into the Gendarmerie at some point - and I am certain that I will. They can check the documents I am obliged to carry with me to be able to go out during confinement, but will they still insist that I am not allowed to ride my bicycle? This remains to be seen! I have my (polite) response well rehearsed!!
And today? Well I managed 3 hamster laps in my permitted hour. Not bad considering that my Jones is set up for touring and weighing a portly 18kg!