Depart Dinan

It was an earlier start this morning as we planned to try and catch the start of today's stage at Dinan. I drove out to Broons to reduce the ride to 30 miles or so - but Stuart and Conrad were there waiting for me as they'd had the benefit of a tail wind. Our route was pretty straightforward. When we got into Dinan the action was clearly taking place in the centre of the town where there were large crowds and a carnival atmosphere. We found our way around to the media compound but the teams were already gathering in the main street ready for the the depart. We got up there taking the bikes through the crowds about 5 minutes before the riders left - there were a few groups of them just in front of us, but not many we recognised.

After the riders had departed the team support cars laden with bikes and the team coaches squeezed there way through the narrow streets of this historic town.  Interesting to see the kit up close, but really we should've been out of bed an hour earlier to get to see the riders closer up in the media village.

We rode back into the headwind to Broons together, then we all loaded onto the car and drove back the remaining distance to Le Millet, which was just as well as the heavens opened on the way back and the guys would've been soaked.

The Wall of Bretagne Has A Bad Case of Damp

The Shops in Mur-de-Bretagne had gone to a lot of effort to welcome the 2011 Tour with spectacular murals of former winners:

Stuart Demonstrates The Effect Of The Carvane On The Hungry Bounty Hunter:

Here, Stuart Is Working On Satisfying The Appetites Of 3 Hungry Cyclists @ Le Millet:

Mad Dog

Le Millet - Chez Kinsey With Some Lovely Machinery Outside (and an Insignia)

 

Meet Vernon, the neighbourhood's big softy  (that's the dog, not the Insignia)

 A Ball, A Ball, Oh Boy, A Ball!

Keep Yer Paws Off (its my ball until I say you can throw it for me)

When Is A Fez Noz Not A Fez Noz?  When Its Local Music And Local Dancing On The Night Before The Tour Arrives In Mur-de-Bretagne