Day 2 Dunkirk to Somain 81.8miles (1983ft)

This won't be a long post. Despite the relatively low mileage and lack of climbing we have had an eventful day and so I have only now got a moment to let you know where we are at. 

We left Dunkirk with the threat of imminent rain but thankfully managed to evade it for most of the day. We left our hotel on the harbour and rode almost due south covering the first 20 odd miles with relative ease. 

Having followed a canal for 5 miles we then turned East and headed into Belgium and to Flanders where cycling fans abound. 

We stopped for a coffee and for some a Belgian beer in the cafe at the Hop museum of Poperinge. Well it was sort of obligatory really! 

What a lovely friendly bunch the Belgians are and not just when there is a bike involved. There is a slightly mad eccentric side to them which is rather engaging and often quite hilarious. Must be something to do with beer at 9-12%.

After Poperinge the drizzle started and sadly we had our first casualty of the trip. Jill slipped on some wet railway lines and fell awkwardly on her shoulder disrupting her AC joint. :-( a trip to A&E confirmed our suspicions and now she is back with us arm in a sling and we are all very sad she won't be riding any further this trip. Jill is planning to head home by train on Tuesday. We will miss her company and I will miss my room mate and cycle buddy. 

In order to stop the rest of the riders getting too cold we moved on to Ypres home to the museum of Flanders and the Menin Gate memorial which hosts the names of those lost in the battles of the First World War and whose remains were never recovered. It's a beautiful and humbling memorial and was also hosting a running event as we passed under it. 

The loudspeakers and heavy rock songs blasting out seemed initially disrespectful. Actually those lives that were lost fought for our freedom and the fact that so many people are able to enjoy taking part in a run on a Sunday or other such activity is testament to freedom hard fought. We doffed our caps and turned right onto the Menin road.

With roads closed for the run the support cars missed the monument sadly and we then headed towards Roubaix for a visit to the velodrome where the worlds most respected one day race the 'Paris-Roubaix' ends. 

With our lunch still in the camper van at the hospital and Nick and Karen struggling to find an alternative we stopped at a small baguette shop and bought some filled baguettes for lunch. 

Andy couldn't wait for his roll to be filled so snacked on a small biscuit...

With a bag of baguette swinging from my handlebars we found the velodrome and sat eating our rather late lunch. 

Everyone took the opportunity for a quick spin around the velodrome track before we set off for the last 30 miles taking in the last 3 sets of pavé used in the race. 

Then the heavens opened and we all got wet, very wet. They don't call it l'Enfer du Nord (The Hell of the North) lightly. 

Eventually we reached our destination for the night, Somain. Its a small town with a great pizzeria. Idris and Elliott couldn't resist the Nutella pizza for pudding. 

So now fed and watered and Jill in bed asleep I have cleaned the bike ready for another long day tomorrow. Time for some rest at last.