49. Much ado about nothing

ILE DE RÉ - FRANCE

The unconquered peak of Isle-de-Rae

A day of emails, administration and phone calls.

A beautiful, warm day beckoned so we thought we would peak the one hundred and thirty eight foot high Ile-de-Ré access bridge by bike and knock the bastard off. I recall the intrepid Mollart and sherpas failed to summit on their visit thereby leaving the door of fame wide open for the Royds' using some of their discarded flashy equipment*.

Delayed start after lunch as two flat tyres threatened to push us outside the window of opportunity for the treck to the base and climb as I didn't want to be in the death zone near a meal time. Got the children onto their bikes after lunch and more calls came in. They cycled around the camp for nearly an hour while I paced around outside talking loudly (I am a long way away you know) and gesturing (helps when the signal is bad) until Audrey appeared with a A4 page with the following scrawled upon it.  Darling Daddy, we completely understand that you are busy so, with a minimum of fuss we are going to watch a movie.  It was actually a bit more succinct than that, about six words, and may have included the words suck and bored.

The bridge peak remains unconquered by foot or bike as a challenge to future generations (the Disco and Giantavan rolled over the unconquered peak of Isle-de-Rae on the way here and will do so again on departure).

*Roman is lucky to be riding a Isla Bike, outgrown simultaneously by the four Mollart children - thanks guys