Thursday July 16 - Tonnere to Vatan

We woke up early today for a 34 mile ride to the start of today's stage in Tonnerre which is located in the Burgundy region (good wine). After a hard ride into the wind and up and down rolling hills, we made it to the start about 30 minutes before. We were able to park ourselves just outside the village of Tonnere where we were treated to the "parade" of the riders as they slowly made their way through the city before the official start. During the short wait for the parade to start the temperature started to quickly rise until by race time it was approximately 90 degrees. Gary and I both started to drink any and all liquids and we were fortunate enough to have a family standing next to us that shared their Vitel. I don't think I have ever had as much liquid - - The family then shared directions to one of their favorite local restaurants and proceeded to lead us in their car - a distance of approximately 10K! We had an interesting meal which included one of the best salads I've ever had - one half of a Camembert deep fried (like a mozzarella) over lettuce with walnut oil vinaigrette. The meal also included annuiette sausage (it tasted like the rear end of a cow or pig or a combination of both). Desert was a chocolate tart which helped take the taste of cow or pig anus away. Also, looking back I think I had the courage to try the sausage only because Gary and I shared a carafe of local Burgundy wine (not good for a 34 mile ride home in 90 degree heat). Needless to say, both Gary and I suffered on the way home and I just couldn't get the taste of anus out of my mouth ( although Gary swears his father-in-law loves that sausage). 70 miles and 2500 calories later we were home and hydrating for the next two hours. We drove 2 hours to our next hotel in Arc-En-Barros near the forest in south Champagne.