Day 9 Bethel-Ace Romance - 8.8.05 

The day started out mixed. The old lady who ran the farm gave us a lovely breakfast but the told us my estimate to Paris was way out. We still had about 190 km to go! After the climbing yesterday, Paris wasn't going to happen today. We set out on the highway as there was no easy option and it was very quiet on Sunday morning. The stiff headwind didn't help and gradually the traffic picked up. We decided to come off and while looking around a small village to se how to proceed, saw a bicycle and tractor symbol on the highway we had just left. We re-entered the highway to find a lovely wide, smooth lane just for us.

We flew into Reims and found a Sunday street market where Peter bought some good sunglasses and we feasted on a tasty roast chicken topped with onions and tomato on a patch of lush grass near the market. People passing by wished us "bon apetit" in an unusual sign on friendliness. When I responded" merci" someone commented - you're not French? We looked at a statue of Lois XV and a spectacular cathedral next to it.

  

It took an hour to get the right way out of Reims but finally we were on the tourist road through the Champagne region and stopped at Doormans where John could repair his 2 broken spokes and Peter could recharge his legs. That night we found a restaurant with cold champagne and did what one does in the centre of the region. (Shame about the plastic cups)

Stats Dist 86 Km, Average 17.6km/hr, Max 54km/hr, Climb 585m

  Email John at John@CycleOdyssey.com.au
 

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