The signs for a stressful day were already in place - the weather was overcast and threatening and H was having difficulty seeing where the bread was in the restaurant for breakfast despite a 3 storey high bread basket sitting on our table directly under his nose !
Still we set off at 9.30 in high spirits to tackle an 83 km segment of the Meuse River - a small portion of this mighty river that runs 925 kms from France to the Nth Sea.
The part that we tackled is referred to as the Trans Ardennes cycle path and it doesnt come much better than this. The path on a superb bitumen surface hugs the Ardennes forest, a green collage of trees running along beautiful steeply wooded valleys as it runs from Givet to The twin cities of Charleville Mezierres.
We cycled some 60 kms sighting only a few walkers and villagers from the villages we passed through before we even sighted another cyclist ... sure enough a `roady` flying along the flat path !
Our only worry this time (impossible for even H to get lost) was finding something open for lunch. By mid afternoon we decided to pul over at a secluded (closed) cafe in the woods to do some men's business when the cafe`s owner appeared out of nowhere opened up and served us pots of tea and hot snacks - no sooner had we sat down than another 4-5 locals appeared similarly from nowhere ... Mysterious given the nearest village was some 5 kms away !
The cycle path ran out just before entry into Charleville where a good natured Dutchman staying in the city`s central camping ground guided us into the city (.. it was still too cold and threatening for us to camp !)
Entering the city, hotel options were plentiful and with H in charge we secured a good deal even though our hotel looks like it is on its last legs - as a bonus our room is next door to the unlocked supplies room .... we expect to overdose on coffee tonight !
We wandered into town aiming for a warm dinner and stopped at a pub / cafe but with them not serving dinner till 7 pm and H not drinking because of concern at breaking his neck getting up at night and tripping over bike gear we settled instead for take home baguette supplies from the local supertmarket - a 5 star dinner !
Finding out that our Dutch friend is taking his camper van to Verdun we are currently checking to see if he can fit a couple of bikes on board !
Careful at Verdun. the Boche are still trying to take it!
ReplyDelete