Day 271 – EU – France [Orleans to Chateaudun]

31/12/20

48km

  From Orleans (France) to Chateaudun (France)

Europe

What a day! Company on the road, awesome welcome in Chateaudun and my hosts’ generosity

The day started superbly. I had a few runners and a cyclist accompanying me for the first 20km. Justine, Catherine, Aurelien and Thierry (who also ran with me on Tuesday to Orleans) as well as Gerard, Bastien and Bruno. This group of friends treated me with some gifts too: a waterproof pouch for my phone, some homemade chocolate and a cake. Time passed by quickly in their good company and we drank some hot tea to warm up along the way.

I parted with them and contemplated the next 30km ahead. The wind picked up, a cold headwind that would be persistent for about 15 km. It was really hard to run against it. As it eased down a bit, I found out that my host for tonight had just cancelled on me. What to do on a 31st December with no accomodation and just a few kilometers to go? I contacted Marianne, the vice-mayor of Chateaudun, who had got in touch with me yesterday and I explained the situation to her. She assured me she would sort it out.

I made my way to Chateaudun and there was the municipal team awaiting me, applauding my arrival, as well as a local journalist. I was taken by surprise. They took me to the town hall, where the vice mayor greeted me with a welcome speech, a buffet and gifts from the municipality (see picture below: honey, biscuits, lemonade, chocolates, crisps, all from the town, as well as a book with a kind note signed by the Mayor). In addition, the team had arranged for me to stay at a local “Gite” just beneath the castle. I was blown away by such warmth, generosity and kindness… Thank you Marianne, Arlette, Jean-Philippe and Gerald ?

Today was my last run of 2020 and one I sure will not forget… what a day!

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: