Day 3 Somain to Soissons 95.1miles (3842ft)

We awoke to beautiful blue skies and with only a small amount of faffing were soon on the road just a few minutes behind schedule. Simon has to take credit for being the only one ready at our scheduled departure time of 7.30hrs. The rest of us were still faffing though in my defence Jill is somewhat disabled with her arm in a sling so needs some assistance. It's grim for her to see us all preparing for a day in the saddle and to be in such pain. We have booked her a ticket home for Tuesday on Eurostar as tonight's stop is only an hour by train from Gare du Nord.

So we left Somain and were soon in rural France where the arable fields of oilseed rape and wheat dominate the landscape.

The riding was on quiet rural roads with small towns and undulating hills pretty well all day. We quickly racked up 15 miles and stopped for a quick coffee at the local tabac as is customary on any French bike ride. 

At 27 miles we reached The Foresters house which is now a museum dedicated to the English war poet Wilfred Owen who once sheltered here for 2 weeks in the period before he lost his life in the battle of Ors. The words of his last letter to his mother are inscribed on the walls and are a poignant reminder of the extent of the loss to so many families. It's said that his mother received this letter and read it on Armistice day as the bells rang to signify the end of the war. Owen died in battle just days before the end of the war. 

Moving on into Ors we called in to the British war cemetery where Owen's grave and so many others from his platoon are buried. 

The rest of the day was spent travelling south slowly ticking off the miles. 

After 3 days rising together we are inevitably still working out how to ride as a group. It always takes time and requires patience but it was a good day riding in a peloton. We ticked off many miles quickly including a stretch along one of France's canals. 

 Our journey only interrupted by a couple of punctures. Andy took the opportunity to educate us all on some of the 'cycling rules' quoting from the rule book to the uninitiated.

At about 18.00hrs just as the clouds gathered and the rain came in we reached the hotel having stayed dry all day. Tomorrow will be our first century ride (>100 miles).