Orleans, Briare, and Nevers

Sunday, September 26

Today was eventful, enjoyable, cold, tiring, song-filled, laughable, and buttery.

We fueled up with pasteries, fruit, yougurt, nutella, etc.., and headed out of Orleans for a 80k ride to Briare. The ride was fast due to flat roads, a strong tail-wind, and simple directions. It's really starting to feel like fall here. We've finally broken out the neck warmers and wind-proof shoe covers (aka stylish patent-leather evening boots in Erin's case). Upon our arrival in Briare, we quickly learned that it's not easy to find food and lodging in a small town on a Sunday. We biked up to several hotels that all looked like they had closed down for good. We biked 2k out of Briare center to the Carrefour supermaket only to discover that it's not open on Sunday...we should have known.

We then decided it would be best to get out of this sleeply little town and head towards Nevers. We found our way to the Briare train station where one lonely SNCF employee kindly informed us that a trian was leaving for Nevers at 7:36pm.

We had 3 hours to kill before our train ride, so we headed back into town to warm up and grab a bite to eat. We found the most delicious gourmet (and most importantly, OPEN) patisserie, and bought some quiches and palmiers. We sat outside on a park bench, savored our treats, and eventually broke out in song. We were getting a bit cold sitting outside, so we found an open cafe, sipped some coffee and tea, and before no time at all we were boarding our train to Nevers. Right across from the train station in Nevers, we checked into an inexpensive Comfort hotel, and fell fast asleep!

Amie's quote du jour: "Sunday IS a day. People are actually alive"

As we were riding, I (McKayla) wrote a song to the tune of Ingrid Michaelson's, "The Way I Am." I'll post a sound clip soon. Enjoy...

The Way we Ride

If you are chilly, here take my jacket
It's quite flourescent, so we'll be seen
CHORUS:
And everyone will know we're not Parisians on the Metro
We're just tourists from aux etats-unis
-----
If dehydration is your dilemma
I've filled my nalgene, right from the tap
------
CHORUS:
Et si tu dois aller pisser later tonight
I-I-I-I'll help you find the light
--------
If you are "hangry"
or your eyes tell you that you are
we'll go to cafes
eat palmiers
------
then we'll go to the exotic isle of the Carrefour
and buy our fill of buerre de arachideeeee
"......"