Not sure what to make of Nancy. Tonnes of streets radiating like spokes to the centre of town. Contact my host Catherine and she welcomes me warmly. Her son a little less so. He won't introduce himself and is not being rude, just quiet. I explain to him that I'm not here to try to replace his dad and after that everything is ok. Samuel is a university student at a technical school. Catherine is a serious musician who used to be a teacher but now works in payroll. We talk of teaching and she laughs at the after school workers who complain when they have four kids to look after. She's travelled to Canada and the States and speaks well of both. Not so the French. She thinks their gossipy and cold. She says I may have a different perspective because the people who are offering me a home aren't the "usual" type. She could be right.
We jam the blues with me on guitar and her on violin. She is amazing! What a treat. I also attempt a few songs but cannot read the French chord charts. Zut alors! I also am lucky enough to get my laundry washed and DRIED. They have dryers in the north apparently. We also check out the map for the next day. It's a long ride through some forest.
I sneak out as quiet as I can the next day and make good time through the towns where I discover a new favourite pastry-patte d'ours. I don't know what a bear paw is in English donuts but I'm sure I've heard of it.
I try to get off the road and the curb doesn't look that big but I slide out and nearly go flying off the bike. I start up again and the bike is chirping. Never a good sign. The tire is kissing the rim ever so gently. When I ask a post office worker where the bike shop is she tells me it's far and that it's closed on Mondays. Of course it is!!!:) Then an idea hits me-train! My motto is always go forward when possible so I check out the SNCF station. I can take my bike and the next train leaved in 20 minutes. But the best part is that for the price of a Starbucks coffee in Switzerland, I can travel 80 kms. Love France.
Stairs are the only way to move my bike which is an inconvience but not insurmountable. And like the Memorial to the Murdered Jews in Berlin, the elevators will fit a wheelchair but not a loaded bike. More stairs!
The Metz train station is packed with the homeless and the traveller. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference. Big points to Metz for having free wifi and electrical outlets specifically for charging. Too bad I'm only here for another 90 minutes. Verdun, here I come! Does anyone else hear a song title in that??