Friday the 13th

Well that was a fun day. Morning came dull and damp, again! Set off in full waterproofs only to strip off again when it dryed and warmed up a few minutes later. For the next hour it was off and on but just before lunch it really started to come down. Full Goretex from then on. Rear lights flashing and folk in cars shouting encouragement or something anyway. We knew we had to find food possibly for a few days as Saturday is a public holiday and Sundays can be difficult to find things open.
Lunch was had in a bus shelter.
The campsite we were aiming for was a three star at Meziere en Brenne which looked good from the book.
We found a small mini Proxi market in the town but the campsite was another 8-10kms down the wrong road.
I'd noticed a bit of a wobble on my rear wheel a little earlier so whilst Sue was browsing I had a look and put a little air the tyre. We finished our shopping and were loading up a lot of supplies when Sue pointed at my now completely flat rear tyre. Bliss. Pumping made no difference so a new tube was called for. We only have one spare, unpuncturable tyres you see.
So off came all the luggage into the shopping trolley, still raining heavily remember. Tyre off, no puncture, great tyres, but the valve's torn.
I fit the new innertube and the tyre, which are pigs to get on.
At this point I notice the broken spoke.
I have a spare, I think to myself, but a broken spoke rear drive side needs the cassette removing to fit it. Back to needing a bloody cassette tool.
Sue goes in the shop to ask about bike shops. Every village in France has one. This one doesn't. And nobody speaks a word of English. And we're in the Berry region, ho ho.
We get directed to local garage so off I ride whilst Sue minds the bags getting colder. They're very friendly but obviously know nothing about bikes and really want to go home for the holiday.
We decide to try to reach the site short of a spoke and hope the wheel doesn't collapse when the shop lady comes out and we gathered offers us a lift in her van. We obviously declined as that would be cheating.
So with both bikes in the van and me in the back we were driven to the campsite. It seemed a very long way.
The very kind lady left us in the rain in front of possibly the most desolate site we'd ever seen.
Put the tent up in the rain. Everything is wet. food was mush and the wine was undrinkable. Went to bed. A perfect day.

Woke up this morning to.....how unusual rain. Miles from anywhere on the site that time forgot with a broken bike.
So...the sun came out, the clothes get hung in the trees like a strange Christmas tree display. We borrowed some mole grips from a very helpful English couple who arrived after us and with some creative use of my Leatherman got the cassette off. New spoke in, trued up. Good as new. Hopefully.
I really don't know why we were so worried and miserable.
We now need to find some innertubes and I'm going to buy a cassette tool.

So another 60kms down the road, minus ten in the van and the big hills are getting closer.