FNRttC The Fridays tour 2014

[mmmmartin]

Today was about the fun of the trip. The weather continues to provide sun and a following wind.
Only 40k before lunch, almost entirely flat along the riverside. @redfalo followed the GPX track so exactly that we went twice round the carpark, as we did on the recce. In homage to @Gordon P there was some lakeside faffing in exactly the same place as on the recce. There was unavoidable Grande Faffage involving coffee, a patisserie and some public loos.
We had the usual Fridays Fun on a narrow bridge, much to the annoyance of the driver of a black Golf, who flashed his lights to scare us out of his way but bottled it when faced with my high viz yellow gilet at the back and the serried ranks of riders taking the road. A few ups and downs led us to the delights of Alberto's in Chemille, where four courses were produced for 23 people and eaten within 90 minutes.
There was wine, I believe, but no larging it.
After lunch there was much cheerfulness, not least with Alberto and team, who were treated to the traditional Fridays round of applause. You see, @dellzeqq is with us every inch of the way.
The @ianmac62 Replacement Chappie did sterling work on the luggage which was waiting for us as we arrived at hotels. Fortunately we have a Citroen Jumpy van, which is just the right size for the narrow streets.
Tomoz the Poor Darlings are beasted out of bed early for an 8am departure "so we arrive in La Rochelle in time for a spot of sightseeing". I've told them it's all downhill for 130k
And the day will be so lovely that we'll have two picnics in beautiful countryside. Some have asked why we're having two lunches
Unfortunately, I seem to have omitted to mention we will cross Death Bridge Mark Two
Best regards to all, esp @Agent Hilda who will be pleased to hear that we did not go down, then up, an unnecessary hill.

 

[MarkA]

There was wine, I believe, but no larging it.

Maybe not at the meal, but bidons were filled with the aforementioned wine

 

[Andrew Br]

Maybe not at the meal, but bidons were filled with the aforementioned wine

And couldn't we tell afterwards ..............

.

 

[wanda2010]

I can confirm that the harder the better works for me. My support team was tres wonderfully patient.

I have discovered aperitifs and will force myself to have a glass or two with each evening meal, where possible. I may have to consult with the person extraordinaire on these occasions.

The Fridays here rock, superbly. Smut and innuendo included.

 

[mmmmartin]

We're awake. 8am departure, team. Faffage Interdit.

 

[rvw]

That's the 8am departure which our Noble Grand Routemaster rocked up for at 8.05, is it?

It was a hard morning, cloudy and undulating. "The last hill before Bordeaux" made several successive appearances, in each case requiring the rider "except that next one - I forgot that one". Ho hum.

Lunch no.1 was a bit chilly, but the catering was, as before, superb and extremely generous. The chocolate brownies in particular were inspired.

The run into lunch no.2 had some sun, and also gave the tandem a chance to show its paces properly, no doubt aided by the aforesaid choc brownies, and we had a nice stop by a campsite. Some faster people decided to go on ahead. The rest of us enjoyed our lunch in more leisurely fashion before the flat section. At one point, along side Death Road (AKA the D9) we were racing a tractor - and winning! Navigation into La Rochelle was complicated, but excellently led, and we are now getting clean before heading out for a wander before supper.

And - whisper it quietly - no visitations!

 

[mmmmartin]

grand routing officer daily report.
take a bow, recce party.
although at the time we thought it was a jolly excellent holiday in fact we seem to have found the best possible route across France.
the day started with a very minor delay caused entirely by myself so we left 11 minutes late. by the standards of the fridays this is several hours early, obvs.
but with a day twice as long as yesterday we had to take no prisoners, so the poor darlings were beasted out of bed early and we did not stop until we had 40 kilometres done. we did this so quickly that we arrived at the pre arranged stop ahead of the van.
if anyone thinks being the van driver on a tour like this is an easy option they should have another think (esp when the addresses for the hotels are slightly adrift, ahem).
poor mark had to buy €120 of food for lunches, enough for 23 locust-like cyclists to have two picnics. the first was in a pretty village square and the second was in a leafy picnic spot with tables and chairs.
as the 2nd lunch was preceded by the 30 kilometres downhill section everyone was in fine form. I rode to First Lunch, then @ianmac62 Replacement rode to Second Lunch and then he drove as we "Took the Road" across Death Bridge Mark Two in the now traditional way, this time with van behind with all flashers going. There then followed a 40 kilometres completely flat section which was polished off in excellent style.
we have proved that a well disciplined, fit and determined group of cyclists can move really fast when it wants to.
at one point we did try to imitate the professional racing teams by trying something called "through and off" but the truth be told, it was complete chaos and we were rather fortunate that it did not turn into "crash and off". it was fun, thobut.
so today was the sort of riding done by proper cycling clubs (as well as The Fridays). tomorrow is about variety, with some interesting beachside villages, some fast, flat roads, an excellent patisserie, a fascinating bridge and a wildlife reserve and finally perfect tarmac paths through forests smelling of pine.
Finally, @dellzeqq would today have been uber proud of the club he created, and perhaps wept for joy at the hynocratic way riders took the initiative and waymarked when they thought it necessary. It was a wonder to behold, and shows that it's not about the bike you ride nor the roads you ride it on: what matters is who you ride with.

 

[mmmmartin]

Team
9am departure from the Ibis where we are.
Want to get across the Pont Transbordeur before it shuts for two hours at lunchtime.
Also, Royan is pretty.
Also I need to Address The Nation in the afternoon, to hear what you want to do about the last day into Bordeaux.
Finally, as this might be the last time we are together and there is time for it, there'll be a short round of applause and an utterly inconsequential gift from me to Mark The Van. But keep quiet about that.

 

[mmmmartin]

Moi?

Just back from inordinately enjoyable meal in warmth of the dying sun, at extraordinarily beautiful spot by the harbour. Suggestion was made that we just keep going to Gibraltar. Verdict: unproven.

@stuart G made eminently sensible suggestion that, as it was now dark, there should be a FNRttC back to the hotel, with a halfway stop at a cafe. But as the distance was only 150 yards we ignored him.
He was last seen leading his intrepid party back to their hotel in diametrically the wrong direction.

9am departure, team. Faffage Interdit. Here Speaketh The Grand Routing Officer.

 

[mmmmartin]

Gosh the streets of La Rochelle must be REALLY clean. That same cleaning lorry has been up and down the road outside the hotel for a couple of hours now....

 

[AlexB]

It sounds as though you are having an amazing time. Thing is I can still picture all of these places in my mind as you describe them.

 

[Gordon P]

grand routing officer daily report.
take a bow, recce party.

We were well led (although sometimes it has to be said, from behind....)

 

[mmmmartin]

I can't imagine how you can remember them as i definitely remember much of it being covered in a mist of hail stones and rain. Others will judge today but i think it was some of the best riding some of them have ever done.
the transporter bridge was followed by sightings of many birds of prey in the marshes. the tandem went through the strange bridge with no problem. i managed to make a huge mess of the exit from la rochelle and took the entire group along a cycle path that ended at a gypsy encampment and a road covered in broken glass.
Medals were handed out. The recce party will get theirs by post

 

[Gordon P]

Am eagerly awaiting news of final day - from athletes & flaneurs alike.
btw

 

[mmmmartin]

Utterly tired. 36 degrees: ALL RODE TO BORDEAUX. All well. Bikes in van. All heroes. Sleep.