Two to Gibraltar Part 9

Saturday, 14 June 2008
Beziers – Clermont Ferrand
Starting Mileage: 9764
Daily Total: 218
Finishing Mileage: 9982

Left Beziers at 0745 arriving at Clermont Ferrand at 1400. Stopped off at a viewing point on the outskirts of Millau to photograph the famous Millau Viaduct.

Views of Millau

Alan

John

Weather – blue skies all day but very cold riding over the Massif Central, highest riding point 1100 metres. (3610 feet)

In the afternoon John took his scooter to a local shop. Rear wheel brake pads – one completely stripped, one extensively worn. Pleasant, knowledgeable young man replaced the pads and bled john’s brake system. €43 – not bad for immediate service on a Saturday afternoon.

Had dinner at a Chinese restaurant – Bamboo Garden, not very good food but the staff were very pleasant.

Sunday, 15 June 2008
Clermont Ferrand - Orleans
Starting Mileage: 9982
Daily Total: 191
Finishing Mileage: 10173

Father’s Day. On the road for 07.45am. Weather overcast and we soon ran into rain that continued all the way to Orleans. Arrived Etap Hotel at 12.15 to find the reception closed until 17.00 pm. The Etap “Checking In” machine was hors de service (out of service). Fortunately the rain had stopped and the sun came out to play! We sat on a bench outside Etap until 16.30 when the manager arrived. In no uncertain terms we let him know about the “machine” and he turned into the only Etap employee who didn’t understand one of English!! I had a go in French but it lost something in the translation. He disappeared into the hotel leaving us on the doorstep. He fiddled with something in his office and reappeared in the foyer to show us he had switched on the “machine” and we could now register. After several attempts to register, with his help mind you, we gave up. As it was only a few minutes to opening time, 17.00, we asked if we could enter the hotel and register at the desk. Definitely “Non, non!” So back to waiting on the outside bench.

Eventually he opened the hotel. As he could see we were not best pleased with him he decided a bit of reconciliation was required so he offered us free breakfast. Next morning I ignored the manager, curtly giving my room number. John being a little less curt told me how the manager was apologetic over our four and half hour wait for our rooms. Me, I was still totally p***** off with him.
Pleased though that my four lads had texted me “Happy Father’s Day”.