I had a quiet last night catching up on some reading, writing, checking emails and booking accommodation for the next few nights ahead. No doubt an extended tourist season, plus the Rugby World Cup, is making accommodation more challenging to lock in, especially for 4 people looking for twin rooms. Stewart joins us in a few days making number 5 in the band, so things will become more interesting accommodation-wise.
Meanwhile, Col, Brett and David went into Chalon-Sur-Saone to find a bar to rehydrate after a big cycling day and some dinner. They finally came home around midnight. I was asleep by then until I heard the Google Maps voice announcing "You have arrived at your destination" at the front door of the hotel.
Our hotel, Hotel A La Villa Boucicaut, is excellent and the service was very good. They even do cyclist's washing for free! The breakfast was filling, and the menu was expansive ... all for 9.50 euros. Our first stop after leaving the hotel was the local markets. A walk through the markets saw us buying our lunch for down the road - it was difficult choosing from the vast array of food available!
Again, today we left rivers and travelled through villages and along canals. The bike paths were generally very good with a few gravel trails to follow. It was soooo busy with other cyclists out enjoying their Sunday. Most are couples or families enjoying the sounds of the canals and nature ... until a group of cycling tourists arrive (not us) with music blaring out loud ... so much for serenity!
The morning ride overlooked paddocks of Charolais cattle (I'm a country boy who knows his cattle!) and fields in fallow awaiting their next crop. We did come across a group of Americans on a 7-day bike tour. Feeling homesick, David began speaking to some of them. Eventually, he came back from the dark side to rejoin his Australian brothers. When finished, I asked him if they, like him, were from North Carolina. They were not. I then proceeded to ask him if he knew any of them because they were also American. He said no. Apparently, not every American knows each other - weird right!
We had our fresh market produce for lunch by a canal near a village. Brett played chef and prepared a smorgasbord of fruit, cheese, baguettes, and a variety of salami sticks. Chef Heston Blumenthal would be proud ... Gordon Ramsey, maybe not!
After lunch found ourselves riding through pathways with trees overhanging, almost boulevard-like. We kept leapfrogging a couple riding along the route. Finally, when we had a water break, they stopped beside us and began a conversation about the dangerous animals that we have in Australia. Hildegard and Ruediger were great people. Hildegard had visited Australia 3 times. Ruediger was very engaging, however, it was hard not the notice that he wore the shortest, tightest shorts ever known to man ...
Although 'just' a 70 km day, we all felt leg weary today ... it didn't get much better throughout the day. The 5 consecutive days of riding is having its effects. Our next two days are 90 km and 80 km days ... then a rest day in Nevers.
We finally arrived in Montceau-les-Mines around 4.00 pm, only to find a sign on the hotel door noting that the front desk didn't open until 5.00 pm ... but you could check in after 2.00 pm. WTF? Fortunately, a phone call to the hotel had someone come and let us in earlier. The hotel was clean and tidy, and importantly, it had a bar ... however, it also had the smallest rooms we'd had all trip ... David had to do his daily stretches in the hallway!
After a quick shower, we headed into the older historic area of town. We walked and we walked looking for a bar where we could watch the Wallabies vs Fiji game in the Rugby World Cup. Perhaps somewhat fortuitously (we lost), we couldn't find anything open. I had been warned that nothing was open on a Sunday ... so true!
We eventually did find a brasserie for dinner ... the bar next door did have a live broadcast of the rugby game. We told the French locals that we were Fijian! Bula.
Good stuff Fulton, a great read. There might be some rooms freeing up - Zac is rethinking his trip to France due to the loss to Fiji. Jason
ReplyDeleteThanks Jas, yes it was somewhat embarrassing! Probably a good choice for Zac! Hope all well there.
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