France 2008
Bal de Pompiers
Sunday 13th July
None too early a start, everyone a bit tired from last night, particularly the driving party. We ate breakfast in the hotel watching the light rain fall outside.I set off on the quickest route to Clermont Ferrand, which was of course the Peage. Much cooler than the day before and there was some very heavy rain. I had to stop to put n some trousers and thermals on under my m/c gear.
First stop way Royat for lunch, a modest restaurant/bar for a salad. I think they had underestimated the demand as the service was pretty slow. Then on to Les Puy du Dome.
Motorcycles can drive to the top along a very well made and not very challenging road. On balance I think I'd have preferred the walk that Lynn and Charlotte took to the top. The view is spectacular but was much obscured by drifting cloud. I spent an hour waiting for it to clear from time to time then took off for Mount Dore.
The rain set in however and the sights become rather of a trudge when it's that heavy, In the end I set course to tonights hotel in La Bourboule, Hotel 
Les Fleurs. I arrived dripping in their lobby but Olga (our hostess) took this quite within her stride.
Olga and Gerard are a charming couple who made us most welcome in their old style and exquisite hotel. We had several drinks with them and they cooked us a really splendid dinner. Olga said it would be steak but this was something of an understatement and the 5 course meal rather surpassed our expectations.
We had just retired to our rooms when the fireworks started, literally. Mary and I wandered down to the nearby bridge, we couldn't raise Charlotte or Lynn, we later found out they were watching it form their balcony. A magnificent display. We also found out that there was a dance of the firemen in town, something I'd have loved to have seen but no deal.
