Monday June 26th
Last night's meal was a real disappointing affair. As usual I left the bike to walk to the restaurant recommended by the campsite reception. 800m up a hill ( avenue de Verdun) only to fnd it was ferme!
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Never mind there was another one 800m in the other direction - le restaurant de deux ports. It tried to be a bit up market but everything was fried and came with enormous German pleasing portions. The only thing up scale was the price.C'est la vie.
I have fallen into a set of routines. Wake between 6.30 and 7.00. Up and off to the toilet block for "the three sh's the second of which is shave.
Back at the tent (which has attracted positive attention from other campers) I apply the creme chamois and sqeeeze into my padded bib shorts (not an elegant process ) Then it is into the tent demounting process.
Deflate my pillow and stuff it into the stuff sack. Roll up the sleeping bag and stuff it in its stuff sack. The same for my sleeping mat.
Then I close the inner tent and empty the porch before collapsing the tent by removing four tent pegs. Remove the poles and roll up the tent all into their stuff sacks.
Then comes the "ten people into a mini" moment. Pack everything into their panniers and mount them on the bike.
Once everything is safely stowed I fill my water bottles and have breakfast.
The last but most important job is to apply the sun screen. The whole process takes about an hour. I am beginning to long for a day without tent up tent down.A day when I need the sunscreen wouldn't hurt either.
Today I am following la Saone (pronounced "sown") it is quite picturesque and busier than before.
However by 15.00 I had enough of going round in circles on the cycle path. At one point after I had cycled about 10 kms from a village I passed a sign to the same village 3.5kms.Enough. I took to the roads and made much better progress. I reckon I have cycled 160 kms today for 90 kms progress south.
I have reached a fine municipal site at St Jean de Losne I have eaten royally in the campsite restaurant for 12.3 euros. What a difference a day makes.
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| Camping les Harlequins St Jean de Losne |
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| I knew I had brought these for a reason |
What did he know. Within half an hour the rumble of thunder could be heard and it began to spit with rain. However that was it and it looks better now. I have however prepared the tent and the bike for rain overnight.
Tomorrow I will be heading for Challons-sur-Saone.
Anderson read tomorrow 's edition of this blog!
26/06/17 Monday les Herlequins St Jean
de Losne €10 4
excellent restaurant, bar, good
facilities, right on the Saone, 2km to town
Brian - forecast looks like it will give you the reduced temperatures you have craved. Visited Challons sur Saone some 30 years so will read your blog as avidly as Anderson and Kate. You can fix the tent routine by having another day off in the near future but I am sure you will do what meets your needs. Concert last night was very good. Missed out on the freebie reception so had to content myself with the 2.5 hours of music from kids from the school and the visiting Chamber Group from Bruges. Was endlessly gobsmacked by the 3 eminent staff members who look more like roly-poly models rather than role models. It must be 53 years since I even turned into that School Drive. Probably explains my grumpy perspective. Lots of people asking about your progress. When informed they just shake their head in awe and disbelief. Still not inured to this challenge. Brianesque will soon replace Herculean in OED. Keep rolling.
ReplyDeleteFrom Chalons sur Saone we went to Bourg en Bresse. I am sure you might be heading that way if going towards Annemasse and Le Lac Circular. Helping us relive our camping holidays. Great. S&B
ReplyDeleteI met a fellow traveller who told me that I have to take the "voie verte" from Chalon to Macon.Apparently it features the longest bike tunnel in Europe.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to spoil your trip down memory lane but feel sure you will understand.