June 2, 2011

The predicted bad weather has not yet materialised – we start from Domremy-la-Pucelle, the birth place of Joan of Arc, in sunshine.  The road is an absolute jewel for cycling.  It is a smooth, straight ribbon (probably built by the Romans) stretching across undulating hills in front of us with virtually no traffic.  The rises and falls of the road are perfectly spaced and at a perfect incline so that we can rush down one side and gain sufficient momentum to carry us half-way up the other side without changing gear – a quick pedal to the top and we rush down the other side – over and over again.

Our day speeds by and we make good time – we should reach 100 km and get set up on a camp-site in plenty of time for dinner.

Best laid plans and all that…. at around 90 km there is no sign at all of any camp-sites.  Another 10 km on and we do find one – closed until 11 June – 10 km further and we see a hotel.  We´ll forget camping then.  However, the owner tells us that she is fully booked – strange for a hotel in the middle of nowhere (or as Ken said “Fully booked my ******, this is all about Agincourt – fortunately not within her hearing) .  I suspect she thought two grubby cyclists might lower the tone of her hotel.  A tourist sign marks a camp-site at another village more or less another 10 km away, but when we get there it is a site with chalets for rent – no tents allowed.  We study the map – Vesoul, a big town is about 15 km away, so we head there; maybe we can kill two birds with one stone – find somewhere to stay and tomorrow find a bike mechanic.  A sign just on the outskirts directs us to camping by a lakeside. We have cycled 137 km – our longest day yet.  We will see what tomorrow brings towards solving the clicking.