Day 19 Chalon sur Saone to Macon

Wednesday June 28th

The day STARTED so well.

 It had huffed and puffed all night with lashing rain until after 04.00 but the morning was dry. The tent wasn't and wasn't going to be dry so it had to be put away soaking wet.

My randoneur friend from Lille came into the toilet block and shouted, "Bye bye  Monsieur le Scotsman! Bonne route a Lezingyang!" I was just coming out of the shower so we were able to wish each other warm "bonne route"

I was in very good spirits having had a text from Pauline to let me know that my final poem what I wrote had gone down well at Lesley-Ann's retirement event.

Old Station

I  had made sure that I knew how to get on to the "voie verte" which follows the line of a disused railway line from Chalon to Macon. All told about 80kms.

I have carried a pair of Aldi Bluetooth headphones for two weeks and for nearly every one of these days I have been tempted to throw them away. However on the cycle paths they are great. 20kms an hour no traffic listening to your favourite tunes  What's not to like? At one point I was listening to Ed Sheering singing about his mother's passing and I kept getting insects in my eyes.

By midday I had covered 50 kms and I was about 5 kms short of the start of the tunnel (which was why I had taken this route ) The tunnel du bois clair is the longest bike tunnel in Europe at 1.6 kms almost exactly a mile.

Although I had been bowling along at a good rate the destruction of last night's storm was evident in the branches and leaves and on four occasions whole trees which were on the path. It should have been no real surprise when the puncture fairy made an unwelcome visit.
I stopped beside a picnic table although it was clear that this would be no picnic. I had to unpack everything before I could begin to change the inner tube. I carry three spares and a puncture repair kit. Although there was clearly a puncture I could not find the source. I felt all around the inside of the tyre  but nothing.

Crossing my fingers (and toes) I fitted the new tube and put everything back together.(at least I thought that it was everything )When I went to re-inflate the tube with my trusty pump it became clear that it wasn't trusty. A part had shaken itself off and I could only blow the tube up a little.

I decided that it would be best to cycle the 3km to the  town of Cluny to sort it out properly.

No light at the end of the tunnel

 I had only reached the edge of the town when BANG the tube blew out and it was a miracle that I remained upright. Two punctures isn't funny.   As I set about a second repair I suddenly became aware that I didn't have my bar bag with my phone and money and passport and everything important in. I must have left it 3 kms up the hill at the site of the first puncture. Oh shit shit shit!

I abandoned my useless bike and walked as quickly as is possible wearing cycling sandals back to the cycle path. HALLELUJAH the bag was exactly where this careless stupid feckless idiot had left it.

Lucky or what!

I returned to fix my second puncture which was a huge tear not a hole. I installed a second new tube crossed everything and it seems to be ok.

However I had just got back on the bike when the heavens opened and it didn't stop or even relent until I reached Macon. (and this is supposed to be fun)

The quite forbidding entrance to the tunnel du bois clair

I did however get to go through the longest bike tunnel in Europe which was the point of taking this longer route.

I was briefly tempted to get a Chambre d' Hote but it stopped raining for long enough to get my tent up. I am writing this inside my tent because it is raining again and the thunder is rumbling in the background.

I did however stop in Macon to buy a new pump and a spare "chambre a l'air"

I have just finished a pizza topped with snails ( it is Bourgogne! ) one of the best  ever all washed down with a pichet of Macon blanc.

There is light at the end of the tunnel!

It has been a good day that could have been disastrous.

The moral of the story would appear to be: don't put all of your valuables in one bar bag.

28/06/17    Wednesday      Municipal Macon                Macon                   €17.55                              3

very big,  4km out of town, beside out of town shopping,  restaurant, bar, good toilets