Day 12 - Thionville 75 kms - A Chinese Laundry !

Had to work hard to prise H out of bed apparently enjoying a dream where he was on the run from a drug cartel or running it one or the other !

Our good mood from our days rest was quickly spoilt as we looked out our window to steady rain.

Layering up we loaded the bikes and departed Verdun. We hit a steep 3 km climb almost straight away with our layers now causing us to get even more wet (sweat).

Once clear of the ridge and with the battleground memorials adjacent we flew down the other side. With traffic thinned and the rain now just drizzle remarked on how beaut the cycling was heading across vast open fields until I reminded him of the two laxatives he'd taken the night before ...` long way to a tree Kev `!

At about this point things started going down hill, the drizzle turned again into steady rain, the light traffic became almost motorway like and there appeared to be nothing open anywhere for a cuppa that we both dearly wanted to warm up!

Entering Briery required a good climb and with both of us wet and hungry we were happy to spot a Boulangerie on our way out of the town

H took responsibility for lunch. I watched him through the window as he gesticulated and used sign language to indicate that he was after a couple of sandwich baquettes - the look of shock from the shop assistant told me that maybe all hadn't been translated well !

H finally emerged with about the biggest baguette sandwich Ive ever seen filled with a Cooke of acres of ham cheese and tomato. Although hungry we could only eat 1/2 so saved the rest while we set off again in our wet gear now about 5 KGS heavier !

We were hit almost straight way with a large high speed descent soon followed by .... you guessed it , a slow steep climb out of the valley wed just descended carrying our undigested banquettes.

Getting closer to Thionville the traffic really started to build up and with a sense of deja - vu i stopped with H on the corner of a large multi lane roundabout to check our GPS before taking the Thionville sign posted direction.

Thankfully the GPS showed the turn leading straight on to a motorway illegal and very dangerous for bikes.

Taking another route we finally arrived in the center of Thionville and picked a hotel fluking a room the size of the MCG allowing us to litter our clothes around to allow them to dry !

We are only 100 meters from the Moselle river which we plan to cycle over the next 3 days ( supposed to be spectacular) ... well that's the plan - it all depends on H getting his emails done prior !!!