Saturday July 11th 2009
And so, the final curtain. All slumber-heads this morning, a slow breakfast followed by a frenzy of bathroom wall building and three-man-mirror putting up. At 1100 the three most useless handy-men, Micks Ayliffe & Sutton with Norman sneaked away from Bedlam on their bikes to repeat the first day's ride down the Vezere gorge at Comborn. Before they got there they took a short diversion to pay their respects at the graves of Father and son Rabe and Andre Briar, three resistance fighters “fusillees par les barbarien Nazi’s en 1944.” Denbo and Mick had stumbled across the roadside memorials many years ago and we have visited them whenever we have visited St Ybard since then. Then it was on down to the river, past the luckiest garden gnomes in the world, where alongside the bridge we found an ideal property for sale. Norman agreed it would make an admirable acquisition but said it would not be acceptable to the Lady Wife because it was too far from Tesco’s. After the climb to Estivaux, taken at a much steadier pace than on day 1, we rode into Perpezac-le-Noir for drinks at the bar and then out onto the old main road, now deserted because of the nearby motorway. Then it was round to the Lac de Poncharel to meet up with the rest of the lads who had brought along a picnic which we all enjoyed before flopping out in the shade to rest and oggle or perspire in the strong sunlight. About three o’clock those of a competitive nature retired to the café for Crepes, Cornettos, coffee and beers while we watched two hours of the Tour on Tele. Another fine day awheel completed by a refined potter back to base camp and a plunge in the ice pool which is supposed to do you good. All that remains is to take Trevor down to the Auberge St Roche in the village for a thank you dinner tonight and then up and away at sparrow fart in the morning back to dear old blighty and you lot. Make the most of your last day and we hope to see you on Tuesday for the Bastille Day celebrations.
For those of you of a measuring disposition the week’s mileage was 297 and the total climbing was 22,780 feet, the average speed will not be divulged to protect the innocent.
And so, the final curtain. All slumber-heads this morning, a slow breakfast followed by a frenzy of bathroom wall building and three-man-mirror putting up. At 1100 the three most useless handy-men, Micks Ayliffe & Sutton with Norman sneaked away from Bedlam on their bikes to repeat the first day's ride down the Vezere gorge at Comborn. Before they got there they took a short diversion to pay their respects at the graves of Father and son Rabe and Andre Briar, three resistance fighters “fusillees par les barbarien Nazi’s en 1944.” Denbo and Mick had stumbled across the roadside memorials many years ago and we have visited them whenever we have visited St Ybard since then. Then it was on down to the river, past the luckiest garden gnomes in the world, where alongside the bridge we found an ideal property for sale. Norman agreed it would make an admirable acquisition but said it would not be acceptable to the Lady Wife because it was too far from Tesco’s. After the climb to Estivaux, taken at a much steadier pace than on day 1, we rode into Perpezac-le-Noir for drinks at the bar and then out onto the old main road, now deserted because of the nearby motorway. Then it was round to the Lac de Poncharel to meet up with the rest of the lads who had brought along a picnic which we all enjoyed before flopping out in the shade to rest and oggle or perspire in the strong sunlight. About three o’clock those of a competitive nature retired to the café for Crepes, Cornettos, coffee and beers while we watched two hours of the Tour on Tele. Another fine day awheel completed by a refined potter back to base camp and a plunge in the ice pool which is supposed to do you good. All that remains is to take Trevor down to the Auberge St Roche in the village for a thank you dinner tonight and then up and away at sparrow fart in the morning back to dear old blighty and you lot. Make the most of your last day and we hope to see you on Tuesday for the Bastille Day celebrations.
For those of you of a measuring disposition the week’s mileage was 297 and the total climbing was 22,780 feet, the average speed will not be divulged to protect the innocent.
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