I have reached Bar-le-Duc on shedule and certainly hope the going will be easier from now on (that is what I think every day). This means by next weekend I should make it. Trip stats for today 86,12 Km,, 432 hm., only 5:11:57 on the saddle.
This was because I am planning a bit more rural stuff again in the morning and may not find anywhere for a while. Don’t tell Mum, as I don’t want to worry her, but some of the places are extremely rural – (I mean nearly dead) terraced houses, boarded-up shops, bars , resaurants, hotels. strangely enough many small villages do still have a boulangerie, but often nothing else. Bigger places (SMALL towns) all seem to have a driving school.