Finish - Bourbon - Lancy
Distance - 99km
Time - 6 hours
Total - 850km
Well the cycling stomach is on the move again! I thought I would say it before anyone else did. People may think that with all this cycling I would be loosing weight but no, I can more than compensate for the calories burned by a super human intake of wonderful French food. Having said that I only had one pain au raisin for breakfast and it got me over 40km. So on that basis I am doing 40kppar. Not too many emissions either!
There is a motorcycle event on today at a nearby place called Magny-Cours so there were lots of high powered motorcycles going the opposite way. Thank goodness they weren't travelling in the same direction as me as it is horrible when motorcycle come past you on a bike at speed but not so bad when they come towards you.
Well it's been cloudy with a strong cold wind all day. It was after 12 noon that I felt the first glimmer of warmth and that was only tepid. I was cycling hard to stave off the cold. I thought I had come back to England, it was so cold.
The only real town on my route today was Decize. It seemed nice with 3 different bridges over the Loire but I was fixated on the need to check my back tyre with a proper tyre pump. I found a cycle shop and the man there checked it and it was fully pressured. It's funny when you get something in your head that something isn't right, anyway, I am reassured.
I made good progress and got to Bourbon-Lancy nice and early around 2pm. I had pre-booked my accommodation at a chambre d'hote called Bamboo! It shouldn't really have been a surprise to find when I arrived that it was over a Vietnamese Restaurant. I thought there was something funny about the conversation I had on the phone when I booked the place. The man on the other end didn't seem to understand my best French, I now know the reason, his French is as bad as mine. Very comical! I don't have to look far for my place to eat tonight!
I dumped my kit and saw a few road bike cyclists cycling around. When I saw a cycle race steward standing on the corner I knew a race was imminent. Unfortunately they came past before could get my camera out. It turned out to be the local community race involving about 50 riders but they had all the entourage of support cars etc following after them. By the time I got on my bike I couldn't even see them, so much for me providing some international competition!
I went into Bourbon-Lancy in search of the famous chocolate biscuits but I was only disappointed. I found a nice old town, a slightly run down Thermal Quarter (the town is well known for its thermal baths which seem to be inside posh but a little run down hotels). So, in the absence of biscuits and a warm bath I resorted to type by finding a warm bar with rugby on television. I watched the Clermont v Toulouse game, it was an excellent game with Clermont eventually winning comfortably. On the way back to the room I picked up a bottle of Macon Rouge, a nice local wine, it would be rude not to try the wine of the region! I'm supporting the local economy after all.
I realise that I haven't mentioned my other love in life. That's music! (before you presume a rude answer). I haven't mentioned Bob Schneider once! Look him up on the computer and have a listen, you won't be disappointed. He is the best artist/musician that no-one (except me and everyone I tell) has ever heard of. I think I should include on the blog a bit of info about what I'm listening to as I travel. I have actually been listening to Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits (thats not a refection on my predicament) as I have been writing the blog today. Great!
It's also great to have been back on the bike today even though its been cold. It gives me a purpose because I'm going somewhere not just going round in a circle to finish in the place where I started. Do you understand what I'm saying or is the Macon Rouge kicking in?
Photo 1, Church at Bourbon-Lancy (only church I went in today).
Photo 2, Beffroi Tour in the Old Town
Photo 3, Thermal area of Bourbon-Lancy - yes it looks like its closed on a Saturday afternoon!
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