One would not think it possible. What was supposed to end up as a nice relaxing day, beautiful weather, bookings arranged for tomorrow and for after tomorrow, turned out otherwise. During dinner everything was rosy. I almost stoked of laughing at the joke of W.v.H. of the gym club. He also told a story about a man who came home to his blond woman with a bunch of flowers. I think I’d better not tell the rest but, though tonight, despite the now resulting misery, I still had to laugh about it and still laugh about it today. So what turned out last night? I had indeed booked for Wednesday night in an English B & B in Juvigny, beautiful on my route, 28 km. away. However, last night I found out that there appears to be another Juvigny, a few hundred kilometers away from here. So I had booked wrong. That has happened to me before, viz. in the South of France, at the Abbeye of Solignac. Until Tuesday midnight I’ve been searching for alternatives for Wednesday. And now on Tuesday night I realize that on Wednesday morning I can only start calling from 9 am. Earlier is not appropriate. So leaving early, I can forget. Besides, where to? Or should I take a day off and then continue searching in peace? But I’ve already booked for the day after tomorrow, Thursday and I’ve arranged all kinds of meetings for next week. Well, like a former assistant at my work taught me: shit happens. A man must be teased. So skipping breakfast this morning and instead searching feverishly for a shelter for tonight. Panic, even with on my shoulder my angels Bri and Lil, because they speak French fluently. Eureka! I still found something all by myself. However, nearly 30 km. further, but who cares. I’ll stay with farmers. Pets are welcome. Eh eh, though starting late I am assured of a bed tonight.
Just like yesterday we walked all day along the Marne lateral canal: nice flat, no traffic, beautiful weather. A drowned badger in the water. Stupid, those canal walls are perpendicular, kilometers long. If a horse, dog or human happens to fall in, you never get out again. I saw several Dutch cargo boats inter alia from Wanssum and Nijmegen. The boat wife took a picture of horse Leon, I think. I now belong to the nomads like adventurers, Roma, fairground people, or maybe a pious pilgrim? Passersby watch me investigating. Along the way some brief encounters: a cycling lady with the usual questions; a spectator at a lock in the canal. Do you also have a job? Yes, part time, I said. Patron or ouvrier? (Boss or employee). Actually patron, I reply, but the secretary at the desk is actually the boss. She makes me work. I do not think he understood. I don’t care either.
Until I saw a tent on the other side of the canal, with a bike with a covered child seat attached behind the bike and in front of the tent there was a little fake lion. Qu’est ce que c’est qu’est ca? Jesus, did I write these French words well? He shouted something across the water, but I didn’t understand. Instead of swimming to the other side, I walked 100 m. more, crossed over the bridge, to the strange bike rider. Now it was my turn to ask: where does the journey go to? To Dakar! From where? From Calais. He had gone 500 km. already . As far as the crow flies he wants to ride about 8000 km. The great artificial animal was his lion mascot. Coffee? He asked. Of course. He had a tent for up to 4 people and a giant mattress. To purchase your black harem? I asked him. Maybe, he hoped. 110 Kg luggage, 40-60 km. a day. Why this adventure? So he told me. Like I said before, there seem to be more fools in the world than just me. Meanwhile, dog Tosca looted the Frenchman’s cheese and bread and along with horse Leon they were sharing their profits. When I got the rests of the cheese back I offered the biker my own cheese, but he did not accept it. We have both filmed. Bon courage and on we went. Actually, I was a litlle bit in a hurry, because by searching during breakfast for a night shelter I had a late start and the distance is great. But this kind of special people are worth stopping a while.
The cathedral of Chalon en Champagne was too far away unfortunately to make a good picture of and I did not want to go up there one hour walking again, just for the sake of a photo.
At 4.45 pm I arrived at my farm: B & B at Nicole and Jacques Songy. Horse Leon is in a hangar, in a separate box next to the bulls. Leon got good hay. Tosca is near there, also in the hangar, sitting on her blanket, in which she will have bitten a few new holes tomorrow. And I continue to look for shelter with my I-pad for the coming days and plan the hangers for my animals. Soon after I would have diner with the farmer’s family. Might be fun.
The supper was fun. But then again starts the continuous daily problem: finding something for Friday. For Thursday I found something South of Reims, in Verzy. Trying to find something for Friday immediately North of Reims, but nothing: either too expensive, or they do not answer the phone, or no animals allowed, or there is no place at all to sleep in the village. I searched in Courcy, Brimont, Berméricourt, Loivre, Orainville, Pontgivart, all in vain. Going further North will take one extra day. And more to the East or West is too big a detour. This searching really takes much more free time than I like. Not to mention the short night of sleep and the uncertainty. It’s not really fun!
On the farm / chambres d’hotes at Nicole and Jacques Songy
all day along the Marne lateral canal 
Tony on the way to Dakar on a bike 
Tony at 12 o’clock. Not on his way yet! 
I wonder how he will drag all this through the Sahara 
Tony, still without black harem
Wednesday February 11th 2015 Matougues 28 km.
