An Oklahoma State of Mind
Day 20 – Bourges to Sancoins, France — 33 miles
We had a great time visiting Bourges, especially the Saint-Étienne Cathedral. We also watched the 49ers beat the Cardinals in a good game. However, being on European time creates challenges when trying to watch U.S. sports because of the time difference. We ended up going to sleep around 2:00 a.m., and we were both pretty tired for what turned out to be a difficult, challenging ride.
The landscape changed quickly as we left Bourges. Instead of the awesome, forested roads we’d been riding, today’s route was a slow grind upward across wide-open farmland with very little tree cover and a strong headwind. It reminded us of the tough headwind rides we faced while cycling through Oklahoma—when you have to settle into the bike seat, face the wind, and find a mindset that breaks up the monotony. Fortunately, the quiet roads and solitude made the ride feel like a bit of a mind trip, and we arrived in Sancoins, a small farming-town hub in central France.
Like many of the small towns we’ve visited, Sancoins is struggling to thrive, and there were many boarded-up storefronts. Still, we had an awesome evening staying at the St. Joseph Hotel—sipping beers at a café in the central square that faced a church, and enjoying a French made-to-order dinner at the hotel. It was one of those culturally authentic evenings we’ve truly learned to love.
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