Helo hello

11 days to go
Distance travelled: 99.2 miles
Time in saddle: 8hrs 32 mins
Overall distance: 4569.2 miles

It started off being pretty dull this morning, but that was not a problem, in fact it was a relief. I’ve been too hot most of the way, a bit of cold weather would be appreciated. I went down the ‘Canal Le Gonnarde, which was brilliant. I must say it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
The paths are brilliant and the people I have met are great. The first person I met was Eric…sound better when he said it…in French. He was lovely but had a massive cold sore on his lip, full of cream, bless him. Thank God he didn’t try to give me a French kiss…I mean the one where they kiss each cheek, not the tongue one….. steady on.
I continued until I’d done about forty miles. I went into one of the many small villages situated near the canal. It was lovely….and sad too. I sat at the war memorial eating my dinner and I noticed that there were a number of names from the same family….at least two or three…on one occasion there were four people from the same family killed during the First World War…..I can only imagine what effect it had on a small community like this. We tend to think it only happened in Britain but it didn’t.
I was cycling along and came upon abridge, which was lovely. I asked a guy if he would take my picture…. his name was George, my dad’s name and he was from Burnley in Lancashire…. he now lives in Spain and is on holiday in France…how weird is that?
We had a good long chat about nothing in particular. I phoned a few people today from home and it was fantastic. I have cycled past some really English looking countryside today and it has made me feel really home sick. I cycled past a conker tree, which always reminds me of going conkering with my two son’s…priceless.
This part of the journey must be the most beautiful…every scene is like an oil painting it really is. It must be the most beautiful part of any country I have been in so far….except home of course. In fact it reminds me very much of Sankey Canal….built approximately the same time but on a bigger scale.
I went scrumping today (Stealing apples from trees). I’ve not done that since…well never mind. They were hard to resist…lovely too.
I said bonjouir, excuse the spelling, to everyone today as I cycled past them….many people ignored me. I stared to make things up…saying things like “ Hairy arsehole”….no reaction. Nicky –nacky noo…still no reaction….waterloo…always seemed to get a reaction, so it should …a great record…ABBA, what a group….and we beat the shit out of them in the battle too…perhaps that’s why? I know it’s immature but it’s still funny.
I was really getting tired at ninety miles and was looking for somewhere to sleep…probably at the side of the canal. I came across a camp site.. brilliant. Met some nice people…a guy called Roy Milton…bit of a mystery. Changed his name….Won’t tell me his real name. He is from Canada and is here on holiday. He offered to cook me some food…sod it that will do…it was a very nice too. I had two helpings, greedy git. I shared some wine I bought earlier and it was a fair swap. So is he a Russian spy…a criminal…good food though
Am knackered and off to bed. See you tomorrow.