Le Tour

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Stage 1 - As was the case with our last cycling trip, the crew are all Dutch. Fred, our guide, is a quietly spoken, laconic type of character who gives nothing away on our first morning except to say "Zair vill be some hills today." Well, he wasn't joking, but we all survived. I've decided to use the Schleck's tactics on Cadel and let Fred drag me up the hills with him! Our first major stop for the day is Versailles which comes after a steep climb through the Forest of Ste Cloud. We ride about 40 klms today and spend the night at Conflans, where the Seine and Oise rivers meet.

Stage 2 - We don't ride this morning but sail to Auvers Sur Oise the town where Vincent Van Gogh chose to live the last couple of months of his life and where he decided that he had had enough and ended it. It is a fascinating town and we have learned so much about this troubled man and the tragic life that he led. We cycle to Chantilly and finally to Creil where we meet the Elodie for the night.

Stage 3 - A 40 klm ride today with little or no hills. We follow the riverbank of the Oise for most of the day and the only challenge is the terrain which changes from tar to grass to dirt and then mud. My personal favourite is a kilometre of 2 inch deep blue metal which caused a few problems. It's amazing how graceful women can be as they fall off their bikes! We spend the night in the beautiful city of Compiegne where Joan of Arc was arrested in 1430. We arrive early enough to explore the town and Trace and I decide to have a drink in a little brasserie in the town square. We are just sitting there watching the world go by when we are entertained by a real life pantomime in the street. A young man walks to his illegally parked car carrying a newly purchased baguette when he is met by a parking policeman who begins to write him a ticket. Of course, he objects and a major argument erupts. The officer gives him his ticket and tells him to move on. He refuses and, before long, the officer calls for backup. Now we have 2 officials screaming at this guy but does he move? You guessed it, of course he doesn't. Instead, with a look of total nonchalance, he pretends that his baguette is a giant cigar and "ashes" it out his window onto the officers' feet. They must of come to some compromise because, as quick as it all started, it ends and all the players go their merry ways.

Stage 4 - Our ride today mainly takes place through the Forest of Compienge and is 40 klms of wonderful scenery. The forest is very serene and the tranquility only disturbed by the sound of birds singing and bike tyres hitting leaves and twigs. A highlight today is a visit to the spot where the armistice was signed on 11/11/18 between the French, British and Germans.

Stage 5 - It has rained on nearly every day since our tour began but, until now we seem to have avoided it whilst cycling. Today our luck changed and what started as a misty drizzle developed into consistant rain by mid morning. This turned out to be our longest ride so far, 62 klms of not too steep but rolling hills. Fun was had for all when one of Fred's "short-cuts" incorporated about 2 klms of thick mud which was so boggy that only about 5 cyclists made it through without stopping. We are now in Peronne on the Somme for a rest day and have visited many memorials of the Great War. There is a heavy presence of Australia's commitment around this region and when you see examples of what they endured it makes a complaint about a bit of mud seem to be a nonsence.

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Photos

Looking over Paris
After our first big climb, we could still manage a smile

Auver Sur Oise
There is even a street sign pointing to Van Gogh's Home Town

RIP
Although the most important, these are the simplest graves in the cemetery

Another Van Gogh Work
During his 2 months in this town, he completed 78 paintings

Pierrefonds
Whilst there we saw a filming of the show Merlin

l'Amistice
On this spot stood the train carriage where the Armistice took place. Unfortunately the carriage was destroyed on Adolf Hitler's orders during WWII

Cathedral of Noyon
A list of the many saints and popes that have been Bishops at this church since the 6th century

Washing the bikes
A local pool builder came to our rescue

War Cemetery at Brie
Included among these poor souls are 27 Aussies. Nearly everyone in here died in their early 20's. I wish it wasn't true, but there are dozens of cemeteries like this around this area.

Comments

[Peter Stewart]

Hi G & T
Graeme and Tracey, It looks and sounds like you are having a great time. don't know if you are receiving any Comms from here, My blogs, Paul's tets etc. Sharks won both NSW Cup and Toyota Cup, The Golf weekend we discussed is set for Kiama, last weekend in October to give you plenty of time to recover from your big trip. There will be 8 of us going. Rgds Stew