August 19, 2009
To a beautiful gite at Auchy au Bois: A lovely day followed by a memorable meal
Tricia writes
Slept much better last night but a soft bed tonight will be very welcome. Had the last of the chocolate pudding, some apple juice and a chocolate biscuit for breakfast – it had been cold overnight so everything was nicely chilled. We are getting pretty good at breaking camp so were on our way by 8.30 and made great progress through Ingham then on to Theoronne. This was a lovely little town with a boulangerie and a bike shop where for 8E a kind man mended Ken’s slow puncture – then when he went to inflate it there was a massive bang and the tube burst, he just calmly put in a new one. Then lo and behold down the road was a bar where we could get a coffee so it rates as one of our favourite French towns.
Progress was not as good after that and we certainly got a long way off the recommended route but were saved by the GPS once again, it proved much more reliable than the nicotine soaked man with the rotting teeth and the overfriendly manner. Stopped in a spud paddock for our lunch of bread and cheese and then it was only about a quarter of an hour until our beautiful accommodation. We were stopping so early because there seems very little accommodation in that area. Our place was lovely. a converted barn absolutely stuffed with nic nacs and antiques – you could hardly get a grain of dust between them, truly charming. Lovely owners who gave us a beer. We both went sound asleep for an hour after having a long shower and trashing the room.
Dinner was at 7.30 and really remarkable. It started with the Aperitif de Maison which Bridgette had made out of green walnuts, beautiful tomato soup with croutons followed by roast veal and potatoes au gratin and tiny carrots. Then a salad, cheese and apple and raisin crumble. The wine was a red from Bergerac but after two glasses of the aperitif I could drink very little of it. There were 6 of us, Harry the overweight English man who had a passion for motor bikes, a delightful French couple, Bridgette and us. An English couple with perfect French joined us briefly for an aperitif before they took off on their bikes to have a picnic. I had to make a huge effort to talk French (and translate for Ken) and managed reasonably well but by the end of the evening (the meal went on for two hours) my brain was shorting out and I was pleased to fall into bed and go to sleep only to have wild dreams in pigeon French
Today's ride: 25 km (16 miles)
Total: 355 km (220 miles)
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