MooN

France is imposing negative PCR test results in order to enter the country as from saturday. Unless you have a complete vaccin passport ( 2 or 3 doses depending where you're from) AND if you're coming from an EU Member State. NOT the UK then...

its funny how quickly you can go off some people...

well the weather here is set shitty

depends how much people are willing to pay you to vote for them. i'm open to offers...

a series of unconnected thoughts provoked by that @boboneleg Man, as in Mankind...? When the Fuck did we suddenly go politically correct? we'll be having the 'elf and safe tea inspectors in next! it's not about gender but species...? or are we not allowed to say Mankind anymore either? Vote MOTY and TOTY, if one of the girls wins it, then change it to POTY. ? I think the non male identifying persons on here are probably intelligigent enough to not be insulted ( lets face it, they wouldn't be on here otherwise)

You're gomg to Bob's?

leave it as BOTM. read the rules of submitting a BOTM pic; It has to be your BIKE pic has to be taken in the current MONTH. QED; BIKE of the MONTH. I agree with @Tango on this. the constant is the bike. Please don't make it anymore complicated then that.

good choice. Comic books are excellent for learning the language, as you say there's some slang in them and if you don't get it the picture explains it. In french and belgian comics there are almost always at least 2 and sometimes 3 levels of understanding; the basic language, the humoristic references and often enough political satire current at time of writing. I learnt masses of French idiom from Franquin's " Gaston Lagaffe" series when I first arrived here.

" Le petit Prince" is a french classic, standerd secondary school study here. I also have " Vol de Nuit" by him. You know he was a pioneer of the french aeropostal service in north africa right?

I love the way he looks at it, like "who put that kerb there?" picks it up and gets on with it.

yeah, I seem to remember when I took the picture I thouht about taking the box off but decided that " It's my bke, it's my ride, on my terms. I take a picture during the ride, I'm not an artist, or even a photographer trying to projetct some message or image. This is me, this is my bike, in this place, at this time. " I really don' care if others think it would be better somehow else, ( and besides, I couldn't be arsed)

I'm currently re reading my way through the Patrick OBrien collection ( series of books the first of which was made into a dissapointing film "Master and Commander".) possibly not of much interest unless interested in sailing aships and maritime history. though exceedingly well written.

104 metres ( 341 ft for the cave trolls among you)

Nope, couldn't be arsed to remove the topbox either.

There was a French comedian (Coluche) who asked the question " If a Frenchman is driving a mercedes, that's classy. If a German is deiving a citroen what's that, nostalgia?..." german tourist in a mercedes stopped by the police in paris for some minor traffic misdemeanor, Policeman says " you've not been to Paris before have you sir?" German tourist replies " Ja, Ja, Ja, bot ze last time I vos here, I vos driving tracked vehicle..." I'll get my coat...

I had a school friend who's grandfather was, or had been, "regional coordinator " fo the local administration in case of nuclear attack. if ever you asked him what would happen his reply was invariably " you're all going to die" Jolly bloke he was...

ooh not me, always been the same. At sea too when I was younger. I don't mind riding, driving or sailing in wind or snow or whatever but I hate fog.

Down at the southern end nearerethe dam it's much deeper, I could see about 20 or 25 meters of dqm wall clear of the water as I rode past but theres's still enough water in the deeps for there to be half a dozen fishermen out in boats.

yep. they drop the level every winter so they can absorb the winter rain and snowmelt. This year is exceptonall cos they have to inspect the Dam every 10 years I think and they need to empty the reservoir to do that.

The forcast was for cold but clear this afternoon so I planned to ride. around 11 it still wasn't clear but I went out anyway. it was about 6deg c and misty but with all liners in place in jacket and trousers, 2 pairs of socks and heated grips I reckoned It wouldn't be a problem. 220km, riding clockwise. By the time I got to Joux la ville, the sun had burnt through, but that didn't last long. I stopped for fuel in Avallon (1,76€/L !) and then lost all visibilité as I gained what little altitude the Morvan has. Stunning views If you look carefully at the triangular warning sign it says "Chasse en cours" which is what the hunters are obliged to put up roadside if they're beating anywhere near a road. What it really means is that for the next few kilometers, on top of the fog, gravel patches, cold and other road users, you also need to look out for panicking wildlife fleeing the hunt, the hunters dogs chasing the fleeing wildlife and a more or less numerous party of pissed up trigger happy hunters in 4 wheel drives, with loaded guns... if you get run over, or stampeded upon or shot, on the public highway, ... well the signs were up so it's your own fault! the hunters crack me up, they all spend vast amounts of money on specialist camouflage clothing so they can't be seen. Then they all have to wear orange hi vis vests in the field cos otherwise they shoot each other...... and their dogs, This is the northern end of the "Lac de panneciére" one of the canal feeder reservoirs, emptied for the winter this year Tiger in the mist On the way home I rode through Mhére, which is where they filmed "Les Vétos" ( which probably never made it out of Burgundy, let alone out of france). The fog / mist was thicker in places and around 4 pm the temperatur went into freefall and by the time I got home around 5 it was down to about 2C and starting to get dark, but the fog had cleared.

Dry reservoir in the Morvan this afternoon

erm...

much as the idea is tempting, the reality is that a 2400km round trip on the autoroute is not my idea of fun. it would be beyond my physical capabilities to do the trip in less than a week or 8 days and I don't have the finances for that ( or the time...)