Day 4 - Noncourt to Lac de Bouzey

A low tech blog post today, as our intrepid L'Express riders are on a campsite without mod cons, or much grass or even much flat ground apparently! I made notes as they huddled around a mobile phone in the drizzle on what sounds like it was a pretty wet day, just as the Weather Badger predicted.

Here's what the guys told me:

Today we got wet, and then we got wet again and we continued to get wet until 93km into the ride, when it stopped raining… and started drizzling. It did stop again just in time to put the tents up and warmed up a bit, but it's just started raining again, so we'll have to make this a short update.

The highlight of today was that we went through a village called Grand, (we like the name - like having a  UK hamlet called "Big"!).  Grand is quite famous as it’s an old Roman settlement which used to be on a major pilgrimage route during Roman times. It still has a big amphitheatre from that period, which we were were keen to see, but it was closed. There was a friendly sign to let us know that it is open every day of the week, except Tuesdays!

What we could see of the Amphitheatre at Grand. Note the authentic rain drop effect!

After Grand, we passed through Neufchateau in search of a bike shop that Tracey had found for us through the magic of google, as we still hope to fix Jeremy's gear changer before the route gets really hilly. We followed a ridge to get to the town, which is supposed to give picturesque views – but the rain was coming down so hard that, as Roy put it, "the view was closed". We found the bike shop... which was closed. However, this was actually the excuse we needed to find a nice warm cafe to dry off in over a hot lunch, whilst we waited for the shop to open again at 2pm. After food and some much appreciated hot chocolate, the shop did at least open on time, though it didn't have the required part. The shopkeeper helped locate another shop just south of Epinal, that should have the part, so the route has been modified to pass it and the quest continues.

So tonight's stop is at Camping Lac de Bouzey, appropriately near the Moselle, but we're not in any danger of having a "bouzey" night. We're huddled around a lone plastic sun-lounger, using it as a table to keep our tea off the mud, and the rain is getting harder, so we'll sign off and seek shelter.

Today's Vital Statistics

117.37 km travelled today. 5 hours 56 min in the saddle. Average speed 19.7kph, 4768 calories used, 1163m climbed.