Stage 11: Dijon to Veneray les Laumes

Monday's ride was a 75 miler, almost entirely along the picturesque Burgundy Canal.

After inspecting the Dijon mustard shop (produce made in Canada) the team powered through the back streets of Dijon and, like a laser, homed in on the canal. With misplaced trust in the GPS, and Dads navigational skills, the team ignored the canal and rode on following the GPS route out of town. After 4 miles or so, further inspection of the GPS and the map, and a team meeting, the Probert's turned around and headed back to what had all along been the canal they'd been looking for.

Progress was quite rapid although Greg's road bike tyres weren't ideally suited to the sometimes rough and gravelly towpath.
Mile after mile of central France went by and we came to the conclusion that it must be closed. Villages all seemed deserted and as the team rode through town they could be heard bursting into spontaneous verses of the Specials ""Ghost Town".

The regularity of the ride along mile after mile of canalside was matched by the frequency of Toms rear tyre deflating. The first time was unfortunate. The second, about a mile after the first, was tiresome. By the time Tom repaired his tyre for a third time the novelty was wearing off and we envied the Tour de France riders with their 5 back-up bikes and attendant backup support crews.

By 3.30, having not seen any sight of food or drink possibilities we spotted a canalside shack called Chez Bryony. As we approached and admired the postcards an English voice from inside said "course their nice postcards, they're mine aren't they".

The team were brought back to life by an almost instant, and very good, chicken and chips each, and with mars bars as backup we set off again to complete the final 30 miles.

Arriving at Veneray les Laumes at around 7.00pm, and looking for the gite to stay in, the team phoned for directions from the Gite de France owner, cycled round the village a couple of times, then got personally escorted to the right place on bike by the local campsite owner.
With no food to be found in the village, the team crashed out vowing to assault with gusto the next days petit dejuner.