Everything went like clockwork for our arrival in Paris CDG. Bags were a bit slow coming out; Sandy was worried; it all worked out. We retrieved our rental car and drove to Rambouillet, finding Bob & Marian, Jean & Michelle and Jerry; Jerry having just arrived.
Jerry paid 300 Euros for a cab. We later determined that he had been directed to a pirate and the correct fare should have been more like 125. Jerry's woes continued. We went into Paris, he found that he couldn't use his credit card to withdraw money, so I withdrew money for him. Soon afterwards his wallet was stolen, probably on the bus to the Eiffel Tower. His two credit card banks failed to deliver credit cards before the end of Saturday, so he's going to be hitting the PBP road with cash. Not good.
Surely the deliveries will take place before we're back. Surely. He needs a credit card to check his bike for the return trip, otherwise someone will have to be at the check-in counter with him on the 24th. He does have his passport ...
We didn't do a lot that first day in Rambouillet other than visiting the Carefour and picking up groceries, an already-roasted chicken for dinner plus odds and ends. That was Tuesday. Wednesday we went to dinner with the famous couple Bill Bryant and Lois Springsteen. Lois is on the RUSA Board and I've exchanged many messages with Bill but haven't met either of them in person. I can now say that I've met all the Board members. John Ende, Tim Sullivan and Nigel Greene for the first time at a ride last year; Deb Banks in Japan; now Lois; John Lee for the first time at one of the Shenandoah 1200k rides, years ago.
We did have fun in Paris wandering around. The train from Rambouillet took us to Gare Montparnasse and from there we boarded the Metro with an obligatory visit to the Champs and Arc, lunch then the Tower. The great day turned sour as Jerry got on the phone to cancel credit cards Ugh.
Our intent had been to have a Board picture at our RUSA mass picture taking on the 17th at registration but we failed, foiled by the rain. We didn't see Nigel and I expect that Lois and Bill decided not to partake due to the rain. Smart. John Lee, Jerry and I rode to registration and then rode back (about 6k). We returned on car/foot for the 10:45 picture taking, 3k there + 3k back, in the rain, from where we had to park the car. What a zoo. Close to 7000 riders in this little town, plus support, plus well-wishers ... somehow that and road closures makes traffic a congested mess. SQY was much better from that standpoint in 2011 and 2015.
With the rain getting worse, I/We didn't go back for the Canuck picture. I'd walked enough in the rain. Bob and Jean took my advice and didn't attend either. We can photoshop ourselves into the picture; a montage.
On Thursday night we went to Hippopotamus with Chris and Jerry. On Friday night we had a group dinner adding Hamid and Shab, Wolfgang and friends at the Mercure. 14 of us for a very slow service, not happy ending dinner. I ended up taking charge and splitting the bill as it as impossible to do individual tabs. Then they gave us a discount and I distributed some 5 Euro notes to do rough justice. Very rough. Last night we again met up with Hamid and Shab, plus Doug Migden ad Roger Hillis at Au Bureau, beside the aforementioned Hippo which is very close to the Carefour.
Tonight ... well tonight we ride. Chris at 4pm (80 hour group); John Lee at 5:45 (90 hour group); Jerry and I at 9pm (90 hour group). Bob and Jean start at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow, 84 hour group. The 80 hour and 84 hour groups have voluntarily limited their time; DNF if they finish over that time but under the standard 90 hours. Of course over 90 hours is DNF or rather Hors Delai (if you finish but overtime).
My 9pm strategy is simple. 24 hours for 450 kms to Loudeac; get some sleep, leave at 2am; Brest and back to Loudeac the next day; finish on an extended Day 3 as I/we will snooze somewhere along the way, more than likely at Mortagne au Perche. Hamid has a different plan. He's heading out at 6pm today and wants to get to Brest before sleeping. I hope that he'll be ok. I expect that he'll have to sleep somewhere before Brest, if only a short one. I've told Jerry not to wait for me. He's faster other than climbing and if we wait for one another, it's cumulative. He needs more sleep than me and perhaps he'll get to Loudeac first. We shall see. In 2015 between waiting for one another and time in Controls, there was must time lost. We'll do better if we each ride-our-own-ride; always the best advice.
Bob and Jean have just headed out to registration. Since they're departing tomorrow a.m., their registration is today. It was a disaster yesterday, people waiting hours in the rain, those who had chosen later registration times. I had figured at least a 3 hour queue. Shab was working registration and will be doing so again today. She didn't get back to the Mercure in Rambouillet (2km from the registration area) until after 7pm even though she was only supposed to work until 5pm.
Sandy wasn't feeling well after dinner and had a fitful night. I'm feeling ok but also had a fitful night. I'm hoping to have a snooze this afternoon but if history is any indication, that will be short at best.
Onward ? I sure hope so !
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