3rd time lucky

Just the small matter of getting the car back safely, getting to the hotel, hopefully dropping off the bags & then catching the penultimate stage of the tour and all likely to be in mid 30°s
Local roads - no tolls but slower. Left plenty of time which was a good job. Found the car hire easy enough but had to fill up within 5km. Had one in mind but it meant crossing the tram line. Uncertain where & ended up going the wrong way up a 1 way. Swift turn around and around the block except it was the most tortuous route taking in the car hire as well. Eventually filled up & headed back. Couldn't figure out how to get into the car park. Liz scooted in to check. We'd gone past, so had to go round the tortuous block again. Made it & dumped the car no probs. Tram to town from where we were (classed as the airport) was €10 but if we walked 5 mins to the Phoenix Park stop it became €1.70 - no brainer. Nice Aircon to the hotel & the hotel didn't bat an eye to us dumping the bags. Breakie and off to the tour. Pastries on the Promenade de Anglais and even at this early(ish) the temperature was hot stuff. Once at the road closures decided to head onto the road for some shade. Had a couple of blocks and was then told off by a jobs worth gendarme. Don't argue with them. Later saw one literally drag a guy over the hoarding off the road. Headed back a block for a shadier walk into town. Took in the fan park - very busy & very hot. Weren't giving away stuff - had to do competitions or stuff. Tried to get a fan but got pasta. Strange that the only bike manufacturer there was Brompton. Took in the Caravan for a third time and settled down in a shady spot to await the cyclists. Turned out we weren't on the route so a quick rethink scoot & re settle in a shadyish spot. Again very busy. Hate to think what it'll be like tomorrow. Chatted to an Elderly English couple that had flown in just before all the computer chaos - lucky. The cycling wasn't chaos. Glided by as if 35° was nothing at all.Leggi altro