The easy day – yeah right.

After the incredible exploits of Day 9, today – Day 10, was arranged from the outset to be the easiest day. Yes it was 68 miles of cycling (but then that’s par for the course for this challenge) but the terrain was to be largely flat, with more descent than ascent as we traversed the Rhone valley with the alps and Mont Blanc our constant cycling buddies.

Of course it did not turn out that way but then what does on endurance challenges such as this?

Everything started off very well with an 8.30am briefing and a 9am start (later than usual to help overcome Day 9's exertions). The first 6 miles of today was a constant very steep descent (yes really 6 miles of downhill) known locally as Death Hill as each year the hill claims the lives of 3 or 4 cyclists who descend too fast. Lisa, who suffers from vertigo decided to descend in the van whilst the rest of the group made their way carefully down. In the event it was a truly amazing experience if done sensibly – which we all did. And Nigel didn't get a puncture this time either!

After 6 miles and with everyone on the road, we all set off, following the local river as it meandered through he valley. The weather forecast was for a warm sunny day and a nice tailwind to help us along our way.

Imagine then the reaction when after just a couple of miles the blue sky turned very quickly dark and it started to rain (which carried on pretty much all through the ride) and if that wasn’t enough the tailwind immediately and in tandem metamorphosed into a pretty nasty headwind. The group’s lovely 13mph average initial speed dropped markedly and it became real hard going. Not at all what the doctor ordered for this “easy recovery” day. The slippery conditions also brought about a couple of accidents but everyone seems to be okay.

Just before lunch as everyone was noticeably tiring both from the exertions of cycling into today's wind and the cumulative fatigue from the past 9 hard days, our “relaxing” day took another turn for the worse when the shiny new support van broke down meaning our food, water, luggage and repairs were all stuck in a van in the middle of nowhere on a bank holiday in France!

One of the things that has amazed everyone on this trip (in addition to how amazingly different the French and English are in so very many ways) is how empty France is as a country with seemingly every town and village occupied by invisible people.  Last night in a town about the size of a very large English village with well over 400 houses we were the only people alive it seemed, eating in the only restaurant open. At 10pm we walked back the 1 mile to the hotel and did not see a single person. Mind you we did for just about the first time manage to get butter for our bread (more often than not we can't).

On a bank holiday this "emptiness" is even worse. Whilst the group made their way to a local pizza restaurant (the only restaurant open for miles and miles it seemed) we had to leave Shaun of Bespoke Tours behind to fend for himself and try and sort out the van. Some 6 hours later he managed to arrive at the hotel in a hire car with everyone’s luggage crammed into the back: a feat of packing that amazed everyone. As for the van, well no doubt the saga will continue tomorrow when France “re-opens” and we try and get it fixed.

So, after our nice sunny relaxing easy day that turned into a bit of a dayus horribilis we are all now at our hotel. Our next problem seems to be food. The hotel’s restaurant is closed (“it’s a bank holiday monsieur”) as is seemingly every restaurant in town too. Mars bars anyone?

Onward to Day 11….