Page 16 - Shining On Newsletter - Autumn 2022

before the crowds (in buses) spoiled the ascent. We then revisited the bikers café by Le Pisse du Vache
waterfall (I’ll let you translate) and enjoyed another entrecote steak (just because it was on the menu)
with John. We donated our fries to hungry eyes. I then split, rather than endure another set of hairpins
for no reason, and returned on my own to Leysin only to find the usual gang populating the same bars
consuming local beverages. Again the packed lunch had been only insurance.

Day 10 – Leysin to Nancy
Most of us headed home, leaving a handful to tackle the 3-day Extension ride*.

This felt like a long day, 425 kms using toll roads to make haste and stay ahead of rain. Dodging the
German group all the way back, before cutting West across the Vosges mountains, we arrived at a quirky
hotel that required a taxi service to and from their delightful centre office with courtyard dining. Too tired
to stay for the sound and light show around 11pm, we retired to the hotel, giving Steve K a lift back also,
a decision that helped to pin down a future issue (see footnote*).
The hotel breakfast was a strictly by the book affair with portions managed carefully by the proprietor,
until I asked for “an egg please”. He almost choked, recovered then disappeared to the kitchen (to
check if the chickens had produced?) but duly arrived back with two delicious fried eggs. What was that
about? Check-out was as confusing as checking-in and despite having booked the hotel early and got a
cheap rate, they allocated rooms without really explaining that each was individually priced. I ended up
with, and paying for, the most expensive room, either that or they charged me a LOT for those two fried
eggs!

*(After the Leysin meeting 5 UK members took part in a 3-day ride through the Swiss and Italian alps,
crossing 3 passes. Sadly none felt moved enough to send me photos or write about it. Ba)

Day 11 – Nancy to St Omer
Another long day in the saddle, and a relief to arrive and find easy inner courtyard parking at the IBIS
Centre for Andy and Caroline, Barry, Nick and myself. The rest of our group: Peter and Eve, Lucy, Steve
were in the cheaper IBIS Budget but still within easy walking distance of the centre. We were about
eleven strong for dinner in a small restaurant off the main thoroughfare that was organised by Pete B. St
Omer is a quaint market town conveniently distanced from Calais so the run the following morning was

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