2014 The Seventh Day

            Oh, the vagaries of camping.  Yesterday we paid $30 for the privilege of being stuffed into a postage stamp size area of a four star camping site.  Today we paid $12 for a municipal camping site with lots of room and a view of chateau.

            We did our laundry in the morning before heading back in Saint-Dizier.  There I replaced my stolen I-Pod at a store with everything.  You could probably buy a burial plot.  While I dealt with language barrier,  Aaron picked up supplies for breakfast and snacks along the road. 

We found a nice spot in a park across from where the participants in the reenactment of the Battle of 1814  had set up camp.  I took several pictures of them marching off to do battle.  I hoped that they were the Austrians because you could not have found a more motely looking crew.

            Once again, Nathalie at the tourist office was most helpful.  She found a nice road to Bar-Le-Duc and a campground in the city.

            The route was hilly with several climbs longer than 3 kms, but the traffic was light.  Part of the route passed through the Argonne Forest not to be confused with the Ardennes.  The Argonne was a backup to the Maginot Line while the densely forested Ardennes was to serve as the first line of defense against German aggression.  Unfortunately, they were wrong. 

For the first time Aaron seriously considered dry camping.  The big problem would be the lack of a shower.

A family was enjoying lunch in a village.  I asked them if they had seen my partner.  They answered that they were having breakfast when he cycled by.

            The ruins of an ancient abbey were in Trois-Fontaine.   A stark reminder of that 1789 revolution contained a strong anti-clerical element.  Many were disgusted at the Catholic Church., especially with the monks in the abbeys who seemed to do nothing.  At least, the priests in the parishes performed baptisms, marriages, and funerals.

            Halfway through the ride we took a much-needed break in Robert-Espagne.  The small market provided cold beer, cold water, and fruit that we enjoyed in the square in front of the Church.

            The last portion of the ride featured a 4 km uphill.  It nearly knocked the stuffing out of me, but Aaron took it on like a champion.  He said that the trailer really becomes a load on the uphills.  You could not tell by the way he attacks.

            After setting up camp, showering, and a brief rest, we cycled back into town for dinner.  This time Aaron chose better than me.

            Tomorrow we head to Verdun.

            Much joy!!!