The capitulation city.
Total distance today turned out to be 45 kilometres, fairly moderate in other words, but I am happy that I did not have to add that to the other 117 from yesterday. Enough is enough. At least on days when Picardie is closed for service to thirsty bicyclists.
Today was easy enough. I started from Berrieux around 11, and the wind kept blowing from NW. Average speed 21 km/h. Quite hilly in places, and to get into Reims on the so-called yellow or white roads wasn't easy. A literal maze of roads was involved, while the cars cruised in of the straight (and not so narrow) N44.
Total distance from Alkmaar according to the bike computer is now 626 km. After 600 km, just before Cormicy a few kilometres outside Reims, I thought that was an occasion to take a photograph. A bit foggy maybe, but La Belle France shines through:
Came eventually to Reims around 14:00 and checked in at Grand Hotel de l'Univers, the name is somewhat more impressive than the actual hotel (difficult to match that name of course), but still quite nice.
Went on a sightseeing trip afterwards. First to the cathedral. Cathedrals always impress me, also this one. It was heavily damaged by German artillery during WW1, and the restoration work is in places obvious. The commercialism around the place distracts a bit from the power and the glory of God, but that is post-modern capitalism I guess.
Had lunch afterwards at a restaurant on Place d'Erlon. After that a haircut, and then on my way to find the museum of the capitulation of the German forces in Europe on the 7th May 1945. Found it eventually, after a lot of walking among the railway tracks of the Reims SNCF station.
Ran into Peggy & Ernest from Montana there, and ended up having snacks & beer & eventually dinner with them, the rest of the day.
And the bike trip? Nice, with the wind from the right direction. Breezing into Reims is indeed the way to describe it. The bike was at its usual high standard of performance, except that the chain started to develop strange sounds after the 600km village of Cormicy. A check showed that a couple of links were about to work themselves loose from the rest of the chain, bicycle repairman had to step in and do some maintenance work. Worked fine after that. A reminder that the day off from bicycling tomorrow should also be used for general maintenance work and control of things.
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