To Reims

August 21, 2023

Almost all off road and we have done 1000km

We left our ‘Spa Resort’ with a breakfast of orange juice and tea and were straight onto a very busy road. The sun was in our eyes so we rode as fast as possible slightly concerned of our visibility in these conditions . However it was OK and we soon cut out the 6 or 7km.

Now we were turned on to the Canal de l’Aisne a la Marne. This canal which joins the two rivers is really in excellent order and seems to be free of the weed that is plaguing so many French canals. The locks all looked in excellent working order and a VNF van was busily going from one lock to another. Although we saw quite a number of busy working barges we were suprised that we saw only two touring pleasure boats. The surface was absolutely excellent so we spun along without a care in the world. We even saw a PMU at a place where we crossed a road so there was a welcome friendly coffee

A barge going through a lock. this one had two tiny dogs as crew

They all are interested in what he is ordering

Then we came to a place where it was flat so there was no need for locks and therefore access for VNF vans. A cyclist warned us that the track was terrible for about 3km. He wasnt kidding it was a single narrow track through the grass far too close to the canal. What he was wrong about however was that it was 4.7km. We were certainly pleased to be over it and glad to be back on the luxury surface nearly the entire way to our hotel. In all the canal had risen 40m through 16 locks to Reims which turns out to have a busy industrial port.

My cockpit bike computer, phone with GPS and Matthew the pūkeko that our grandson gave us years ago to take cycling. Pūkekos are NZ birds that live in swampy areas

Family fishing and it is here the bad track stars

Considering the ride before the last push

Then Komoot told us to go over a high bridge. It had steep steps going up to it and I admired the fit young people bouncing up them with their bikes (unladen of course) tucked under their arms. Our spirits fell but guess what there was a lift taking us up to bridge level and then it was only a skip and a jump to our hotel with genuine 24hr reception and he let us in early

We,particularly me, feel the need of a bit of a rest from cycling so will take the day off tomorrow and have a bit of a look at Reims and do some forward planning

Today's ride: 38 km (24 miles)
Total: 1,001 km (622 miles)

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Steve Miller/GrampiesSounds like you had a mixed day, but we find that after significant difficult stretches we too are really tired. Enjoy the rest day, you deserve it. We will be more or less following your route in about a months time so we are taking careful note of where you had challenging bits.
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8 months ago

Kathleen ClassenI admire your decision to take up single track mountain biking. Chapeau!
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8 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Kathleen ClassenProbably stupid!
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8 months ago

Carolyn van HoeveCongratulations on your 1000 km achievement! Looks like you’re really in the groove of it now. People here look at me in disbelief when I tell them you can cycle that far on dedicated biking paths.
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8 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Steve Miller/GrampiesYes Steve you could sense things weren’t quite right Steve I appreciate your understanding but we are proud of ourselves getting this far
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8 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Carolyn van Hoeveyes we are proud of what we have done
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8 months ago