events

8.31am. One thing about hills is that the views get better, this is of the valley I've been slowly hauling my'self out of. I'd not had much chance to get fit before the ride started, largely because of a broken toe I'd managed to get 3 weeks before setting off. So this was me getting fit. Slowly.

8.38am Wow, what a lovely sight, the road going downhill. The next hour or so was level or down. I swooped into St Just-en-Chavalet and had croque monsieur and coffee for breakfast.Actually, I'd stopped first at the hotel at the bottom of the hill, watched by the town idiot, but they didn't do any hot food for breakfast; the small bar opposite did.I then topped up with fruit and was guided to the bakers by a friendly housewife, pain aux amandes, y' can't beat 'em.

11.22am, it had been a long, long time since I last spoke French but I do remember that the answer to the question Où est l'église? was c'est en face de la mairie (where is the church it's opposite the town hall). And here is the proof. A town where that is exactly the case. I tried to explain why I was laughing to the gent you see in the photo as he later crossed the road. I think something was lost in translation.

11.38am It's barely lunchtime but I'm hungry, don't want to go further and this place is great. I have salad followed by Lapin au Thym with a nice crisp rosé followed by soft cheese and honey for afters and crème brûlé for pudding. Well it's important for building muscle.