Saturday 11th July 2026

It was said during yesterday's coverage, that Le Tour is the best tourist advertisement that France has.

This is true.

In half an hour yesterday, I saw three places I think we should visit on our long drive back home after the eclipse.

Most impressive was the town and chateau of Beynac-et-Cazenac, which the coverage showed as a drone flight along the river.

I think this will be well worth a few hours of our time. If we can fit it in.

Before Le Tour there was morning.

And Saturday meant phys. So, up at six, drink coffee and all ready to leave at ten to six.

I do thirty five minutes, listening to The Bugle, but that was enough. Just so humid. And hot.

Afterwards we go to Tesco to top up the fridge, manage to spend a king's ransom on nothing much, other than another bottle of rum for more rumtopf action.

Back home to pack the shopping away, then make brews and have breakfast.

After a shower, I prepare the pineapple: half for the rumtopf and half for us, some for breakfast.

And so it was half twelve, and time to take my place on the sofa, Poppy sleeping on blankets nearby.

The day had began bright, but soon sea mist and low clouds swept in, egged on by a keen cool breeze. I won't lie, it was very refreshing, and it stayed like that most of the day into the evening, which should have meant a good night's sleep for once.

The cycling was steady, and the only excitement was whether the lone remaining breakaway rider could make it to the finish before the peloton caught him. Sadly, he was caught with 1.7km to go, swept up by the sprint teams all ready for the crazy technical finish.

We had warmed up focaccia and more Caprese for dinner, then had the radio on for some funk and soul, as the evening game wasn't due to kick off until ten.

And the game was Norway v England: Haarland v Kane. It was a tense game, with Norway the better team overall, and they scored the fist goal near the end of the first half, with England levelling a few minutes later.

A tense second half ended with no more goals, but Bellingham scored his and England's second three minutes into extra time, and England hung on.

A good game of football. No bookings, no simulations, just pure football, and all hugs and handshakes at the end of the game, with players and fans of England singing Wonderwall together.

It was nearly 01:00 and I was beyond tired.