4th July.

Rain stopped play.

A trying day. Excellent navigation on my behalf but, quite frankly, Paris Est is one giant industrial estate which alternates between being half built and half decrepit. This makes following the big roads of the area a little challenging. I was desperate to get onto more open road.

I eventually made it past the outer ring road and past the Disneyland Paris traffic into the forests. Here the cycling was easier and I made good time. There was a peaceful countryside air about the place but something about the flashing of lights, lots of u turns and many parked vans with curtains closed made me think better of it...

At about half 2 I started to worry that I hadn't yet seen a campsite and I ummed and ahhed about stopping. Thunder had been rolling about the dark skies for a long time but the rain had been holding off or falling so sparsely that I had been able to count the drops.

Suddenly, just by a campsite notice, the heavens opened. Well if that's not a sign I don't know what is! I've left myself a fair ride to Epernay tomorrow but as I have a pitch booked until 6.30 I feel I can manage it.