Chatellerault to Poitiers – 35km
15C and rainy
Terrain: hilly off-road.

I felt so warm and strengthened with all of the love and support I received yesterday following my post (reaching 2,000km) on here, Instagram and Facebook. So many touching messages, I am just completely blown away.

Given today was quite a tough one physically, I can’t tell you how much it helped. I just kept smiling. I really know some of the most wonderfully kind and thoughtful people. I simply can’t say thank you enough.

Today was hilly and off-road. Tough and character-building as they say.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This being said, I saw an old Roman theatre archeological dig in the middle of some fields, really quite amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving in Poitiers, this was seriously steep going down hill. I essentially had to use a zig zag skiing technique with Bob to get down safely!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My reward at the bottom, Brad Pit street art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was pretty shattered when I arrived in the centre but I’ve had a little look around. It’s beautiful, a lot of history and character. I’d be tempted to spend more time here in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also really liked that the town hall (Hotel de Ville) is supporting #bringbackourgirls. Listening to my BBC newshour podcast today, this story featured as it’s apparently been 6 months to the day since over 200 girls in Nigeria were captured by Boko Haram and haven’t been seen since.

This story just makes me so very angry. I remember when it happened, it briefly flashed up on the news and over the following weeks I just simply couldn’t fathom how this wasn’t a bigger story (essentially I hate to say it but it’s because it’s in Africa). Just imagine if that many European/American or even Asian children went missing. It would be all over the place.

By the time Michelle Obama took up the cause (good on her), about 3 weeks had passed and it was at that point the world started to take an interest. Too long. I just find it horrifying. Rant over.

On a lighter note, this place is amazing. Thank you Dominic Dennis for the recommendation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

On another different note, I love this (click to enlarge).

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s up on the mirror of the airbnb that I’m staying at. The place is actually owned by a photographer who does some cool stuff: http://www.alexandrapouzet.com.

Though I’d share this as a final thought for today. I heard a pretty amazing Mohammed Ali quote on one of the podcasts I listen to. The last bit will be very familiar but I personally had never heard the whole quote, powerful.

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.  Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”

Other pics from today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brings back memories (year in Paris), didn’t know there was one in Poitiers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was pretty funny.  Quite an audience for a building demolition!