Day 2 of the epic journey!
I am having a few blogging problems - at my age it is often another B but not yet.
The first two blogs have been posted but heaven knows where they have gone!
Made it to Dover thru and unseasonal and inhispitable easterly wind - yes my blogname is sidevind meaning sidewind but should be headwind! We visited Canterbury - the official start of the pilgrimage route to Rome. I talked the ticket office out of charging us £31,50 as we are pilgrims!! Made it up and down the Kent'ish mountains and arrived to Dover 87 miles and 13-1400 metres of climbing. On to the ferry and off again (not for bad behaviour!) on to hotel Metropole on Rue Royal - excellent, fantastic breakfast!
This morning we started on smooth roads, still with a b... Strong b... Easterly wind! Several mechanical disasters, my jockey sheel dropped off the brand new derailleur and later I broke a spoke nipple broke and the brand new wheel (made by Rocketboy who if he comes near me will get a rocket up his backside!!!) had to be dismantled and repair done.
We made it to Arras after 75 miles and 950 metres of climbing nor including the three flights of stairs to our rooms. Now we Re having the first beer of the day (2010 hrs!!) and the day does not look too bad! Tomorro towards the Champagne capital, Reims. Not headwind again, ppppppppplease!!!