Day 2 and 3 - Highs and Lows - 120km Gisor to Meaux / 95 km Meaux to Nogent

I am in the unenviable situation of having a few unwritten blogs starting to pile up, and I am losing my hold on the details—a perfect time for an "abstract blog"; creativity over precision.

Well, it has happened - our group has become a community. Introductory conversations have concluded, senses of humour tested, and boundaries revealed (and also tested). At this point, friendships are forming. As we mature into adulthood, we can have fewer opportunities to connect with new people on such an intimate level. But this ride creates a) the opportunity to pull together as a team, b) be away from home routines and obligations, c) be invested in a meaningful, personally significant challenge, and d) have ample time and opportunity to connect. These are the conditions for fantastic things to happen.

For the uninitiated, here are some travel cycling group dynamics: explained.

1) We move in herds. In a tightly structured itinerary, discretionary time is a matter of constant interest and attention. Breakfast times, dinner locations, and even when and where to pee are a matter for daily discussion and, like starling flocks, the consensus is constantly shifting.

2) Old groups persist, but they can combine or mix.
3) Bicycle tourism is niche enough that any two people on the tour will find enough points of commonality to make for interesting conversations. We are birds of a feather, albeit skitterish starlings
4) Your perceived cycling skills can be expressed mathematically as follows:

P = [E + C + (R - S)] to the exponent m
                X
wh=ere P = perception of skill
E = Cost of the bike you are riding
C = Coolness of clothes
R = Recorded statistics, such as Strava results, K/QOM awards, or legendary accomplishments. NOTE: Video of cycling performance is immaterial due to deep fake technology. Also, accumulated stats about your past performance - time, power, speed, heart rate, etc. - are only of interest to you, and only you will ever look at it.
S= self-proclaimed skills (the stories you tell of your past glories) will register as a negative value and can completely neutralize the Recorded Statistics.
X = Excuses (Disabilities; too much sun/rain/beer; blaming the bike) NOTE: having a disability is not a factor, as long as it is not used as an excuse.
n = Any credible third party endorsement is golden.

These calculations favour the humble, affluent and talented hermit, who has many King Of The Mountain (KOM) awards on Strava, but rarely discusses it, and who commonly leads the peloton into heavy headwinds.

Day 3

We welcome fellow Canadians Jim and Denice to the group. They live in Calgary Alberta, and both trained hard for this ride. They have been riding independently in France until today and have now completed our team of 19 riders. In doing so, they have shifted the international balance of power towards North America in general, and to Canada more specifically. Perhaps a new N.A. group will form and rule.

This is a tough day. Everyone feels it. Started with rain, it was long and with lots of commuter vehicle traffic. Restaurants are closed, and we get in quite late. Our accommodations were atypically poor and dinner was substandard. I hope that tomorrow improves.

Day 4

This is a tough great day. Everyone feels it. Started with rain, sun, and the threatening rain held off. It wasn't too long and with lots of little commuter vehicle traffic. Restaurants are closed (except for one good one), and we get in quite late early. Our accommodations were atypically poor posh and dinner was great substandard. I hope that tomorrow improves is more like this.