St Ybard Charade 2009

Tuesday 7th July 2009

Let’s finish off yesterday first. What a superb last hour’s racing in the Tour de France stage to La Grande Motte. We watched the ITV4 transmission in the evening between the courses of another excellent evening meal prepared by Paul and Denbo. The difficult winds of the Camargue were beautifully exploited by the Columbia-Highroad team who had moved to the front to prepare the finish for Mark Cavendish. An opportunist break developed with most of the Columbia team in it and (surprise, surprise) yellow jersey Cancellara and Lance Armstrong. There followed a most exhilarating chase that resulted in Cav winning the sprint from a group of 25 or so who had a lead of 42 seconds. Marvellous racing and we hope the girls of our 4-up team were watching because the techniques of riding hard in a group in strong winds were superbly demonstrated here and they will be also today in the TTT stage at Montpellier. I suppose you all knew that already but if you didn’t see it then try to get to a recording.

Was it the excitement of the TV that led to excessive consumption and noisy hilarity in the garden until late into the night? Let’s be generous and suppose so. Today was to have been a hard day up to Treignac and Suc-au-May, the highest peak in the area. Alas we arose to a steady drizzle and the lady at the bakers reported that the Meteo suggested it would rain on and off all day. Another cheerful customer gave his opinion, with a grin, that this wet weather would last until Christmas! That was enough for us. You’ve got to be adaptable haven’t you? The morning was devoted to manual labour around the house, finishing off the staircase, demolishing a wooden case and chopping wood. Lunch was reserved at the Espartignac restaurant, one of our favourites. We drove over there in the cars which was just as well as it rained on the way. Soup, turkey gizzard salad, pork chops and beans, extensive cheese board, choice of five desserts, coffee, bread and wine aplenty, all for 11 Euros. Probably the best thing Rob Starey ever did in his life, finding that restaurant at Espartignac.

The weather cleared up as we came out into the afternoon and managed to save Paul from being kidnapped by the hairdresser who has premises under the restaurant. Here we split. One car went to the Super-U for shopping and the rest went to the Bowler Hat where they persuaded the patron to turn off the horse racing in favour of the Team Time Trial. Another super afternoon’s bike racing unspoiled by the rain that fell occasionally on Uzerche High Street outside and unspoiled by the beer that was imbibed. A fantastic cliff-hanger finish with Armstrong and Cancellara ending the day equal on time. Home to postcard writing, carpentry, more tele and good crack. See you tomorrow. Pray for good weather please.