Fri July 4th.
Six of us in our two cars arrived at Trevor’s, 534 miles from Cheam, within
minutes of each other despite using different crossings and unexpected traffic delays around Orleans. Our thanks to solo drivers Trevor and Denbo. After boisterous greetings, storing of bikes in barn and getting bedding arrangements fixed we drove into Uzerche for an excellent meal at Restaurant Charmant which was new to us. Well fed and wined we returned to bed about 11 o’clock. What a joy to have Norman back in our number!
Saturday 5th July
Up late and lazy to bright warm sunshine with a domestic morning in Brive planned, Denbo and Martin went down to the bakers and came back to report that the figure of the young lady in the mini-market was even better than last time. Mr Fixit Shaw had already moved the wardrobe from the kitchen to the bedroom, rehung the door, erected the swimming pool in the field and had it filling from the spring before we left for the big city – Denbo at 50 mph and Trevor twice as fast. Petrol, Decafflon, window blinds, banister rails, lunch and provisioning for the week (and Norman did his for Christmas) before a return to base camp. More dossing, dozing and jobbing before the afternoon’s ride down to the lake at Vigeois started at 5.15pm for Merckx, Lemond, Roberts and Ambrosio. There is no flat route out of St Ybard our legs reminded us but on the other hand we were passed by only eight cars in the 2 hours ride. Action for the day was ending when we arrived at the Lac de Pancherac except for a few kids still swimming around and playing in the water. Back (uphill!) to the cottage where Denbo and Norman were sitting on chairs outside in the evening sun, reading. What a lovely rural couple – been married for years I expect. Paul drew the first few pints from the 20 litres of fine bitter he had brewed in Wallington and declared it had travelled well. So we all had our first pint of Martin’s St Ybard 2008. More mucking about with TV, video machine, Tour de France and all stations in between while Paul started to cook the evening meal and Denbo started barbying the sausages. How does he do it? Supper came up just as Alejandro Valverde sprinted up the hill at Plumelec for a fine win in the first stage of the tour. A handsome repast out in the garden ended in the dark with full tummies and a couple of empty wine bottles before we retired for the night on a brilliantly star-filled night. Tomorrow 75 miles to Chasteaux south of Brive.
Sunday 6th July
During the night it started to rain heavily and it is still raining as we approach midday. So another morning dossing about, discussing building plans, telling Trev what he should do with his house, reading about fat burning, taking a two hour breakfast and typing up the Blog - for six hours. Are you getting the picture? Who would think we were highly trained athletes?
Six of us in our two cars arrived at Trevor’s, 534 miles from Cheam, within
minutes of each other despite using different crossings and unexpected traffic delays around Orleans. Our thanks to solo drivers Trevor and Denbo. After boisterous greetings, storing of bikes in barn and getting bedding arrangements fixed we drove into Uzerche for an excellent meal at Restaurant Charmant which was new to us. Well fed and wined we returned to bed about 11 o’clock. What a joy to have Norman back in our number!
Saturday 5th July
Up late and lazy to bright warm sunshine with a domestic morning in Brive planned, Denbo and Martin went down to the bakers and came back to report that the figure of the young lady in the mini-market was even better than last time. Mr Fixit Shaw had already moved the wardrobe from the kitchen to the bedroom, rehung the door, erected the swimming pool in the field and had it filling from the spring before we left for the big city – Denbo at 50 mph and Trevor twice as fast. Petrol, Decafflon, window blinds, banister rails, lunch and provisioning for the week (and Norman did his for Christmas) before a return to base camp. More dossing, dozing and jobbing before the afternoon’s ride down to the lake at Vigeois started at 5.15pm for Merckx, Lemond, Roberts and Ambrosio. There is no flat route out of St Ybard our legs reminded us but on the other hand we were passed by only eight cars in the 2 hours ride. Action for the day was ending when we arrived at the Lac de Pancherac except for a few kids still swimming around and playing in the water. Back (uphill!) to the cottage where Denbo and Norman were sitting on chairs outside in the evening sun, reading. What a lovely rural couple – been married for years I expect. Paul drew the first few pints from the 20 litres of fine bitter he had brewed in Wallington and declared it had travelled well. So we all had our first pint of Martin’s St Ybard 2008. More mucking about with TV, video machine, Tour de France and all stations in between while Paul started to cook the evening meal and Denbo started barbying the sausages. How does he do it? Supper came up just as Alejandro Valverde sprinted up the hill at Plumelec for a fine win in the first stage of the tour. A handsome repast out in the garden ended in the dark with full tummies and a couple of empty wine bottles before we retired for the night on a brilliantly star-filled night. Tomorrow 75 miles to Chasteaux south of Brive.
Sunday 6th July
During the night it started to rain heavily and it is still raining as we approach midday. So another morning dossing about, discussing building plans, telling Trev what he should do with his house, reading about fat burning, taking a two hour breakfast and typing up the Blog - for six hours. Are you getting the picture? Who would think we were highly trained athletes?
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