It’s much easier to overstay your welcome at the place of people you know, rather than with a random host on CouchSurfing. I seized the opportunity, just as Louis XIII seized Montpellier to crush the Huguenot rebellion. I am staying in Montpellier at Valentin’s, my newly acquired French relative, for an extra day to relax and recharge. Being off the saddle for a while feels good.

Tomorrow is a big day: a 120 km ride with a couple of stops along the way.