Bottoming out

Me, outside a Nuclear Power Plant

Have just heard that the weather in England is 'glorious' - hmmm.

Woke up several times last night to the torrential rain, and after a nice breakfast set off at half seven to try and get to Dijon. We failed. It's been a day of constant drizzle, broken only by occcasional bouts of full-fat rain. The Seine is dangerously swollen.

So we limped along, stopping for coffee and rest - but it's been low on laughs. Dave's well on the way to destroying another back wheel - we've stopped a few times to fettle the spokes, and moan about stuff.

After a big pizza lunch, for a bit of light relief we stopped to de-grease and pressure wash the mech bits of the bikes - and find an air hose for the tyres. Yes, this really was the high spot of the day.

Hello, is that room service?

Now reached Montbarn - not quite as far as we wanted to get, but on the way. We're in a 'budget' hotel called 'Le Siren@ - it's one step up from a bus shelter, but it's dry and er, well, it's dry. The hotel is just next door to a nuclear reprocessing plant ... I wonder how it got its name?

Just one more thing: Having to use more and more unctions on the arse each day. The bike's going great, but where I perch on it is becoming ever more tender. Going to load up on ibruprofen tonight to help ease the leg muscle pain, and help me forget the rain. Oh and while I have your sympathy, perhaps you'll consider donating to our Prostate Cancer Charity:  http://www.justgiving.com/Dave-Paul-Calais-Nice

This is what suffering looks like ...

Despite feeling awful, nauseous and barely able to walk down the stairs this morning, once I got on the bike things went well.

Basically, I'd got mild sunstroke on day 2 - so kept everthing covered despite the 21 degrees temp.   Mid morning, Dave got a puncture, but this turned out to be a good break and a chance for us to compare tools (madam).

Met an old man on an ex post office bike who helped us find a nice restaurant in Laons, so we bought him lunch and drank pastis together before the afternoon leg. He was totally overwhelmed and asked us back to his flat etc etc - but we pressed on. 

Got to Rheims - beautiful - and despite the hotel taking 'spartan' and utilitarian to new lows, we're both in good spirits. Imagine a shower with a light on a 10 second timer..and little signs saying stuff about wasting heat by leaving the door open too long.

Big day tomorrow - 70 miles, and no pre booked hotel.

PC