Chris was very proud of himself today as he felt he used it in the correct context. Temerity is a proper grown up word. It was nothing to do with what Nick had been up to earlier either!
No cycling today but the aim was to meet up with Nick & Chris at Mulhouse-Basel airport. Nigel drove last night until just after midnight and we pulled up in a services for a sleep with just over four hours of driving to go. We drove towards the super blue moon for hours but Monica was disappointed that we didn’t seem to get any closer.
The lads flight was delayed a couple of times due to a technical issue and then a bird strike, so was going to be an hour an a half late This took the pressure of getting to the airport so we made it in plenty of time even with an extra coffee stop.
Having picked up the lads we then had to head off to our first visit to Lidl’s. We left Nigel & Monica to go and do the shopping Monica taking control in her role as tour treasurer and quartermaster as well as our resident doctor.
We of course then had our lunch in the camper whilst still in Lidl’s car park , much to the amusement of the other shoppers going in to buy their weekly groceries.
Having not lost much time to the delayed flight we still had the opportunity to go to visit the French National Motor Museum in central Mulhouse. The collection of cars was built up by the Schlumpf brothers hidden in their textile factory but when they went bankrupt in the 1970’s the collection was discovered and requisitioned by the state and it remains there to this day. A good visit.
After the museum it was time to find the campsite and safely set up. Monica treated us to fried chicken accompanied by our favourite Beetroot and apple salad making a very early but welcome appearance on the menu.
The meal was washed down by a local beer Meteor which received a positive thumbs up and set the scene for the trip.
Oh and I almost forgot – Monica’s challenge – to which the Meteor was the first successful entrant. As we are going through each country Monica’s task is to buy the local or regional beer so we can taste test each one. Tomorrow we finish in Germany so Monica will be looking for some Paulaner weissbier.
And we will actually be starting the cycle.
nbjtours 