Anyway, the sun was beating down as we wandered North East to the rendezvous bar...perfect timing too!
Except that my French friends were nominally an hour late...may have been more. Never mind, the day's adventures had given us a lot to chat about - I liked the way the big wheel had cast its shadow across the race road - the sweeping shadow unperturbed by the passing peloton was a rich sight to see.
The Norway fans were chanting 'Edvald' 'Edvald', 'Edvald' Edvald', continuously - and their enclave was in plain sun. They know how to support their countrymen, that's for sure!
Calm before the storm.
So that's what we chatted about until the arrival of my friends Doron and Patrick. We had a few pints and then decamped (after saying a hello to Sahar and Miranda - as previously mentioned) to
Le Timbre Poste. I keep plugging this Basque restaurant and tonight, at least Andy would be in for a treat. Doron works for RATP and knows his way around - it was a relief after employing Shank's pony all day, and we arrived in no time to Porte de Vanves and 'that place'! Actually, Doron told me he is a friend of Peter Hendy now...and he has accepted an invitation to our wine gig in November. Anyone with anything to say to him - let me know..ha ha!
Andy got to grips with snails, and cuisses des grenouilles avec champignons - c'est necessaire! A couple of bottles of Pecharmont bit the dust and we had a blow out...of the nicest possible sort. It was fun, and the perfect end to a day of Ouiggimania.
The boys wanted me to show a picture of them - for their cycling friend they met earlier in the evening...so:
I'm not sure what they were saying to Andy by that stage, but he looked a bit unhappy don't you think..?
All that and a ride back to the Hotel doorstep - thanks to my friends for taking the trouble - I was very proud and pleased to see them.
After yet another immersion in Ibis coffee and various tranches of breakfast, we amassed our stuff and did a slow bimble to the Station, and of course my bar, where we found Patricia the owner in tears - again! Her seventeen year old dog had died at 03:30 that morning and she hadn't slept. Last year, at an equivalent point, Frank and I had visited the bar also...to find Patricia in tears, although last year her Mum had died...the sense of sadness was the same. I'm almost fearful of my next visit there - I just hope things are ok.
She insisted on giving us drinks and Andy was now officially 'one of the boys'!
His plan was to head for familiar territory in Dieppe - the campsite, and I was to dismantle my bike, bag it and amble to Eurostar, which I did. Slept patchily all the way back and let the train take the strain out of town.
Hopefully Andy will check-in here soon as he, Jenny and Stuart were all on the same ferry - then you may get a more accurate version of events!
And, finally, thank you for pulling it all together, Simon. I know you take no notice of me whenever possible but, just this once...Well done!
What did I achieve?
I bought tobacco for people - something I have vetoed on all my trips in the past 40 years...
Ate noix d'entrecote Black Angus - another 27 year abstinence screwed up and put in the bin.(Something Doron has been trying to get me to do for years!) Ate salmon too - only 24 years for that one.
Tried a frogs leg...they are just like chicken (albeit a chicken that has 'croaked'
)
Other stuff I'm sure - but best draw a veil over proceedings and let someone else have a go.
Wednesday PS: I have just spent a pleasant 3/4 hour viewing
the highlights - worth a watch!
Good one! I might add that the person who collapsed adjacent to us, was not stunned by our suave appearance, but may well have been flummoxed by our magnetic personalities, as it was her Pacemaker playing up. She kept trying to undo her blouse and show me - not that I had any Duracells on me , of course. It was a bit of a weird one, as Andy might agree...but all part of life's rich pageant. There is a bit more yet.
