Orient Express Day 4 Troyes to Val-de- Meuse = 146km!

We had our first unpleasant experience this morning when, after breakfast, we headed down to the garage of the Mercure hotel in Troyes to fetch our bikes. Unfortunately two bikes belonging to Alf & Evelyn from South Africa, which were locked together, had been stolen overnight! Alf is a big bloke and rides a 68 Trek bike so it must have been snatched to order with a bonus regular size Trek attached.. The Hotel is apparently prepared to cover the cost of replacements but, in any event, Alf & Evelyn headed off for new bikes. I suppose when you come from living in a gated community to a classy Paris hotel you just don't expect to be bikejacked..

The rest of us set off along the canal in cold overcast morning which neither warmed nor cleared. Rain threatened most of the day. It is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot today and it is tradition to eat cheesecake.. Edna is nothing if not a traditionalist :)

We continued on and on through fields and animals and after 70km had our lunch stop. Tuna and vegetables to spread on baguettes, some fresh fruit but no juice... The most interesting sight along the way was an old cemetery.

I cycled 100km Around The Bay In A Day last October and have not ridden much since then.. so as the kms rolled on I got more tired and slowed down a bit. Rain was threatening so we headed into Chaumont for coffee and cake and then pushed on to Camping du Chateau which is a 3 star camp ground with wifi and a little store. Of course, the rain poured down just as the tent was up so I laid my weary self down til it abated, emerged for a hot shower followed by dinner of potatoes, chicken and beans... Alf & Evelyn sagged in the last 40km or so with their brand new Bianchi bikes. It will be an interesting campsite this evening....

Ah, I remember now why I haven't camped in 40 years...