80 .13km – 9H57’
Altitude :68m
It was raining “cats and dogs” at the start but this did not discourage a dozen brave runners at 6:00 a.m.! The start is from Fretin and not the Hotel Mercure in Lesquin because that would have made a stage of 83 km. However, it did not keep Serge from being early: it is 12:20 p.m. when he reaches km 46 and only 23 km remain between him and the meeting place in Thelus, scheduled at 4:00 p.m. Serge has wings.
We were happy to receive a telephone call from Eliane this morning.
Serge runs with Béatrice and André for the whole stage. Catherine, Jean-François and Christian, join us every day at dawn, and then disappear before the finish. Incredibly discrete, they will be with us tomorrow, all smiles, and Christian doesn’t stop saying “the weather is beautiful in the north”.
When he reaches Thelus, Serge looks fatigued and the pauses are of little help, but meetings are of utmost importance and it is better to be early than late. In spite of everything, since yesterday Serge is really ahead of schedule because he is running a lot faster than he did these past months. He still has a reserve of energy and he surprises all of us team members. Maybe we are going to have to plan a later start, based on an average of 8 km per hour rather than 7. Our “Boss Runner” will decide this evening.
Our Carrier Pigeons are back with their friend, Pascal, the hot air balloon pilot from Valenciennes. Brigitte brought us our laundry, which smells good. Pascal offered us delicacies and a drink at refueling (to be served only on great occasions!) before he joined the group of runners. We have been spoiled.
My efficiency seems to have returned, since I have not made any mistakes today and am under the impression that there is less glue in my brain. Phew; as Serge often says, there are times when things don’t go well but they don’t last so you just have to be patient. In any case, the “Big chief” has not yet thrown me out so I guess I will still be good for something during the remaining thirty-some days
This stage finished in an incredible deluge, which took away none of the charm of the Grand’ Place in Arras, an immense, paved rectangle surrounded by arcades which give it an incredible architectural unity. The deputy to the person responsible for sports and her secretary, Michel, waited impatiently for the group of runners near the Arch. Thanks go to all these athletes from the north that came in such numbers to share this portion of the road with Serge.
Everyone is fine. Max, who was with us in China during the Paris-Tokyo, is familiar with the refueling routine and his energy gives the whole group muscle and enables René and Daniel to have a much needed break from the van.
Error: In one of yesterday’s photos, the picture was not of the Church of Merville but of the Town Hall, with a typical northern-style belfry and only one steeple, as opposed to the double steeple on the church. Bernard thanks for correcting this.
Town : Arras (Pas de Calais)