Epiblogue. Sur le campaign avec Champagne

Day 24 Narbonne beach pictures!

Day 24 Argens Minervois to Narbonne

Day 23 - Carcassonne to Argens Minervois

Day 22 Castelnaudary to Carcasonne

Day 21 Coufouleux to Castelnaudary

Day 20 Montauban to Coufouleux

Day 19 Cahors to Montauban

Day 18 Cahors - the last "straw"!

Day 17 by Hannibal

Archives

May 2006

June 2006

   Mike (S) and Sheila went to France on a beautiful sea green bike,
They took some euros, and plenty of money, wrapped up
in a map for Mike P (Rommel),
Napoleon looked at the stars above
and sang to a small guitar,
'O lovely Sheila! O Sheila my love,
What a beautiful Sheila you are,
You are, You are!
What a beautiful Marie-Antoinette
you are!

   They cycled away for a month and a day,
To the land where
that special flower grows
And there in a wood
Hannibal stood
With an orchid stuffed
right up his nose, His nose,
With an orchid stuffed
right up his nose.

   'Dear Tom. are you willing
to sell for one shilling
Your orchid?' Hannibal said. "NO !"
But he swapped for a ticket
for Rugby not Cricket
for Munster against Biarro
(should be Biarritz)
They took it away,
and were married next day
By Rommel on retreat from the hill.
They dined on duck,
and slices of prune,
And Champagne in a runciblle spoon;
With Champagne in hand,
on Narbonne Plage sand,
They danced by the light of the moon, The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

   Fin de siecle ou de cycle
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Pics posted by
(Marie-Antoinette)

Tom in the sea


Marie-Antoinette (left) and Napoleon (right) with St George's flag

Across country, following the Canal du Midi, past high new windfarms on horizon.
   Final climb beat Beachy Head! At last saw the sea and zoomed down to Narbonne beach to complete our ride with champagne on ice. No more saddle for 2 days then back to Narbonne and north by motorail to Calais then home for World Cup. Hannibal promises to support England!
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And now the end is near
And we face the final circuit
Narbonne, so far so near
Our rendevous is now for certain
Our task, this cycle trip, the saddle sores, not in a small way,
Oh no, Mike S. for sure,
He did it HIS way
This is old blue eyes signing off,
Thank you for your support, -
Au Revoir - Hannibal
ps Mike, if you have another dream - don't phone me
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Short ride beside the Canal du Midi across fields of sunflowers and corn. Difficult rendevous in old walled city of Carcasonne, threatened to throw Marie-Antoinette/Hannibal over ramparts and into the moat except it was dry. Hannibal subdued and respectful at last then tried new turn right signal, holding bent arm behind head but then fell off bike. Livened up later at the thought of un rendevous avec Angelique (Angela O'Donovan) who arrived from Carcasonne early evening, collected by Rommel. Marie-Antoinette suggested evening picnic, welcomed by all and received 1 brownie point. Great meal washed down with local vin. (Napoleon)
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Having left teflon Tony's at Coufouleux, him of the dodgy 14 handicap and a Spurs supporter to boot, we make our way the 80km to Castelnaudary. The Canal du Midi runs through the town and it is a poseurs paradise. This is the South of France we dream of: casoulet, chilled rosé and chique girls. The regarde-moi brigade are in their element. To this end our intrepid leader nicely turned out in matching top and trouserette cut a dashing figure amongst the café fraternity. Sadly Val leaves us today to be replaced by Angelique - mon petit choufleur. (Hannibal)
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At last - flat roads and no wind. This persuaded oldest member to do 36km. Followed the river Tarn all day - some of us cooled feet in it. One more tough day tomorrow then we've cracked it. No orchids, many awful Irish jokes!! (Rommel)

   Another day dawns. Yes let's try cycling for a change. I am told that one is not a printemps poulet any longer. The slow D.I.Y castration caused by prolonged periods in the saddle is beginning to affect some of us. Still the singing has improved. Indeed I am informed that the matrimonial requirements of the fairer sex is said to suffer. Enough of that. Towns and villages flash by. I don't know if this will end or I want it to. There is a very strong argument in favour of the internal combustion engine. (Hannibal, Lost in France.)
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A lovely hot sunny day with trailing winds sped us up an down the D roads to Montauban. Our first casualty - Bodacea came off her chariot on a fast descent. Fortunately only minor injuries to knee forehead and upper lip. Now looks like Julia Roberts and is sucking wine through a straw!
   Hello to old friend Marie-France ex Brighton and Hove, now somewhere in La France.
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"The ride to Cahors passed wthout incident!" commented Hannibal yesterday. He forgot to mention remarks like "Another shagging hill, Sharman, Holy Mother, what have I done to deserve this!"
   To respond in similar francais to LE:
   Dans le subject de comparison avec Blair et moi (Napoleon) c'est ne pas true, je reject le slur completement.
   Je suis Napoleon et je am omnipotent.
   Je have decidee que Hannibal is relieved de son seniour post et will become Minister de Agriculture et roadside grass cutting only. So much pour les orchides......
   The day finished with a lovely swim and BBQ chez John and Rosalind Rees - many thanks.
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Je suis desolee mais I feel I must spill les legumes. Napoleon (Mike S) is beginning to develop Blairesque traits. C'est LE who is given to waving to all and sundry in a manner unbecoming a retired GP from Hove actuallement. Marie-Antoinette (Sheila S) elle hath no fury has issued le carte jaune. We are ne pas amused.
   The ride to Cahors passed wthout incident. Many thanks for generous sponsorship from Amy Henderson
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"THIS IS REALITY"
Un rève Blanc et Rouge by Napoleon
   I awake to find this beautiful woman by my side. She traces a line over my bulging thigh and calf muscles. I am very fortunate for a 30yr old frenchman, rugged and good-looking in that French way with my De Gaulic Tranterite nose which is so popular. I am incredibly rich for man of my age.
   I am only wearing my red and white maillot jersey top, King of the Mountains in this year's Tour de France. As I power up the steep narrow road as leader, my Mercedes back-up car tries to keep up and another beauiful woman offers me a banana and some high carb drink and 2 testosterone tablets. I decline the tablets because I will have to provide a urine sample for the drug test...
   I awake dying for a pee, leap out of bed, fall over and get cramp in my narrow calf muscle. Remarks yesterday from Hannibal like
"**** Sharman, why didn't they give you physio after you broke your leg" bring me back to reality.
   I hobble over to the bathroom and empty my bladder more slowly nowadays, what with the prostate and the calculi.
   I put in my hearing aid and brush teeth, careful with the one that creeks when I bite on crusty french bread. I look in the mirror and see an old man looking back... But I AM KING OF THE MOUNTAINS FOR REAL and Cahors isn't far away!
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Left tiny hamet of Valojoulx after delightful stay in restored old house with swimming pool. Up more hills cross country tiny road then descents across River Dordogne and Lot. Orchids abound and field of poppies allowed Hannibal and bike to pose - bike looked good. Arrived in Bastide called Gourdon early afternoon and then visited formal Jardins d'Erignac. Good day.
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A beautiful 59km ride through the spectacular Dordogne countryside. Café crème at the hillside village of Beauregard and then onto the picturesque town of Montignac - detour to Lascaur worthwhile, the 17000 year old cave site's sistine chapel type murals of animals are a marvel. What a day for orchids. The bee, fly, man, butterfly and pyramid were noted and a reptilium of lizard orchids raised the spirits. The enchanting hamlet of Valojoulx and Chambre d'hote with its swimmimg pool and themed bedrooms seemed a fitting reward for our efforts. Sorry must rush, Laphroaig is being served by the pool.

Where's Tom gone?
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