Day 6 Saulieu to Roanne 107.7miles (4915ft)

Half way!! Today was the longest ride of the trip and also the day to mark half way through our journey.

We were all up early ready to battle with time versus miles as our average speed per day equates to around 10mph with stops. Today was destined to be a long day in the saddle. Leaving Saulieu the roads were quiet and the scenery even more beautiful than yesterday if that's possible. Though there were some climbs the gradients were less than 6-7% and the rolling roads allowed us all to make the most of the momentum from the downhill to rise to the top of the next. After finishing the day with a long climb yesterday we were all treated to some long flowing downhill with gentle bends and good surfaced roads. A treat for any cyclist! 

Making good progress we arrived at Autun and celebrated our first 1/4 of the ride with a hot chocolate or coffee (coffee being a euphemism for some for beer!) 

The downhills and early start meant a cool morning breeze and I still couldn't feel my hands or feet until the hot chocolate warmed them up at the coffee stop. 

The various sores and ails of the peloton are currently holding fast mostly thanks to the healing properties of Compeed which people are learning can be used on any part of the anatomy!

On the other hand we can start to see the ride fitness kicking in from those who have now ridden more than 500 miles in a week. 

We left Autun and headed up (sharply) on a proper climb with hairpin bends at around 14% as we rose up through the forest. 

Everyone has their bad moment or days on a bike and none of us are immune, though I usually enjoy a climb like this it was too reminiscent of one I rode with my good friend JP in August  2013, the day I heard that Beanz my dog had been put down suddenly. I knew at some stage on this trip that ghost was going to come knocking on the door to haunt me I just wasn't quite ready for it at that moment. I cried most of the way to the top and was grateful for a few moments to gather my thoughts before the others rolled up. 

But life moves on and despite the loss of my best friend I carry many happy memories of her in my heart and am delighted to meet and find new friends.  Our little peloton is becoming quite a team full of characters and hopefully long term friends sharing the highs and the lows of our journey South. 

The route continued with some long climbs but everyone found the strength to get to the top and we had another great day on the bike. 

I couldn't help but wonder if passing motorists thought that Dougie, Idris and Elliott had taken a serious wrong turn somewhere as they all wore their London to Paris shirts today. 

At Digoin we met the Loire river and passed across an aquaduct to cross the river. 

Sadly I picked up a thorn from the path, my first puncture (and hopefully the last) of the trip but soon we were rolling again.

The last 20 miles were pretty flat but Elliott continues to suffer with his knees and how he rode the last 20 miles at more than 17mph average with pain at every revolution I do not know. His determination to finish was inspiring and gut wrenching at the same time. I have never been more pleased to see the hotel than today knowing he could now climb off the bike a take some rest.