Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, blame it on the chafing

You could call this a rest day.
After another good French breakfast, we dropped Dave's bike off at a nearby shop, where he got a new back wheel (again), new derailure, new tyre and I replaced some of the CO2 bottles we used.

We had an honest exchange about the weight on Dave's bike - so he threw out a load of stuff and posted the other things home.

So, today's ride... At about noon we set off on a quick 40 mile sprint to Macon in 30 degree sunshine - quite a difference after the last few days, and it's only going to get hotter. Almost shocked by the beauty of Macon as you roll over the bridge towards it. It's like a real life Canaletto spreading out before you.

On the way we encountered a French guy, about our age, out for a tootle on his 3000 Euro road bike. He rode with us for about 5 miles and we did our best to smoke him. Pathetic really. Anyway, Dave says I'm 'goal oriented', not 'competitive' - which means losing is ok .... apparently.

Tonight's accomodation is a Best Hotel on an industrial estate next to a Land Rover dealership - where the concierge seemed genuinely shocked that we had chosen to stop and ask for a room.

Tomorrow we aim to do a nice total and get to Valence - the sun may be a challenge for Dave and his fair complexion ... and for me because of my cowardice.

For stats fans - we're now up to about 790km - I have 26% chafing, and our top speed touched 68kph yesterday. Alons y!!

Dave does Macon

Stuck in the Middle with You, Dave.

Lunchtime Drinking? What do you think this is? A holiday?

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

It's raining ... raining in my heart

Slept well and felt good this morning - after a quick utilitarian breakfast headed off for Epernay then Troyes - a big day of 135km. Then the rain started. Biblical, comical rain that only a wet suit could keep out. And the rain was made worse, if that's possible, by the 16 wheel juggernauts spraying it at us  horizontally too.

Then Dave's back wheel broke - a spoke which had supposedly  been mended by an idiot back home. We finally found a Decathlon shop that sold bike bits (A miracle, since the shops are mostly closed on Mondays) and bought a new back wheel. We then proceeded to fit it right then and there, in the middle of the shop, as a protest against the total lack of helpfulness from the Decathalon staff. Damn these global brands! We cursed them roundly as we dried off and tried to get warm with 'un big mac' next door.

Anyway, after this setback we really panelled it for a few hours and got to Troyes by 5:00pm. We hit the tourist office and hit the jackpot ... never mind hotel rooms, we got an entire three bedroom apartment avec a dozen, very welcome radiators, right in the centre  of town for 55 quid. Formidable! Off to Dijon tomorrow.

PC

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

St Quentin you've been living hell to me ...

Woke up at 4:02am and wished I was dead.

After a few coffees and breakfast, we hit the road at 8:00 am. Lovely and sunny, with a      light headwind - and because we didn't get lost, got to Bapaum for noon - great progress. By now it was hotand the afternoon shift was hard going.

Finally got to St Quentin by four - not feeling great. Sunburned arms (forgot to cream        them) and a painful left knee. Left off the beer (and the 47 vodkas), opting for the                ibuprofen nightcap instead.

Nice hotel with good bathrooms - almost a pleasure to wash my smalls in.

Filled with trepidation about tomorrow - could be a world of pain. Hope it's ok.

PC

Early to Bed

The restaurant next to our budget hotel was the 'only Polish restaurant in Bethune' - and run by a man who responded to any attempt at speaking French by appearing with a flavoured vodka and three shot glasses.


We've had a delicious 'beef on a pole' (no pun intended, I hope) and about 60 units of vodka, and a surreal hour of pictionary with our host's 6 year old niece. You try drawing 'un crocodile 

dormant' when you you can't remember your own name... 

It's great being in bed before half nine at night. 8-30 UK time... 

http://www.justgiving.com/Dave-Paul-Calais-Nice

Not Such an Old Croque

Well we're on our way.

After a silky smooth and sunny channel crossing, we rolled into Calais full of optimism and a full English. Then we got lost in Calais - a pattern we repeated throughout the day. The French roads are so much better than ours - but someone seems to have nicked all their road signs …

After a lunch of croque monsieur in St Omer, we pressed on. It rained - and we ended up doing 70 miles - not the 55 planned. So much for my great sense of direction. Bike and legs holding up well - and now we're about to have three or four evening meals. In very good spirits - and looking forward to seeing more rural France tomorrow. But hopefully not quite so much of it!

PC


http://www.justgiving.com/Dave-Paul-Calais-Nice