June 1-4 Paris to Chaumont

We are in Chaumont today, our first rest day. We left Paris as a group on Sunday morning in sunshine and fine style, stopping at Notre Dame and the Eiffel tower before circling the Arche de Triomphe and heading out along the Champs Elysees. Our overnight stops were at campsites near Provins and Troyes and we are also camping two nights here at Chaumont. The weather has been very variable, with intense showers seemingly timed for when we roll into camp. In fact my greatest challenge so far has been re-learning the skills required for camping in the rain... the Chaumont coin laundry received lots of attention this morning.

The tour has been quite well organised, with only a few minor glitches so far. My fellow riders are a varied and interesting bunch, from Canada (including Quebec), S. Africa (anglo and afrikaaner), Australia, NZ, UK, US, Netherlands and Switzerland. The bike mechanic is a young Frenchman, and his wife is the tour nurse. Ages vary from late twenties (including three cycling though to Beijing) to 82, but most are in early retirement. I've found several people with similar cycling speeds and interests to ride with -- incl cafe/patisserie stops for second breakfasts and afternoon snacks. The Tour provides breakfast, lunch-en-route and supper on cycling days, so far good and plentiful and sourced locally each day by Jon the Tour cook.

There has been ample opportunity for tourism, including the medieval town of Provins in pouring rain, the General de Gaulle memorial at Colombey-Les-Deux-Eglises, beautiful well-kept villages each with church and Mairie in equal splendour -- separation of church and state on display even in the tiniest jurisdiction -- and glorious rolling countryside. Yesterday we began to see the transition from wheat and barley to vineyards as the terrain became hillier -- we are in the Champagne region.