on double bed please
and free champagne-filled mini-bar. Er......I might have exaggerated a bit about the luxurious bed/maid/mini-bar bit 
.
at the pub at Portsmouth. That seems fairest.
Now we might have to draw straws on the double because obviously everyone is up for a luxurious double bed, scantily-clad personal maid service
Anyhow, let's divvy up room allocation over
So unless I hear to the contrary by end of play this evening, I will send a deposit to the hotel and confirm dinner for 5 on the first evening. The hotel also wanted to know our preference for maid service ethnicity and body type and I told that Tossers are always opposed. 
, so just a quick update on matters various.
) whilst the other has totally indifferent grub and filthy rooms but employs Lido de Paris showgirls on summer break as room staff.
Just one week to go........whoo hoo....
As discussed, I have sent a deposit to reserve our hotel at Clermont-Ferrand, so that's done and dusted. I will confirm tomorrow which of two possible hotels we stay at next Tuesday night on the way down (sorry fishbird but this may require a slight detour on your MapSource route).
I reckon that 200 miles from LeHavre will take us about 5 hours or so of pleasurable riding not allowing for a leisurely lunch stop which takes us to the Orleans/Blois area. This will give us another 5 hours or so of riding on Wednesday to get to our furthest point on the tour near Clermont-Ferrand.
The problem with Tuesday night's hotel choice is that both of the possible hotels has its own special attributes. One has the best food and wine this side of Lyon but is staffed by local nuns (no really
Choices, choices.....
as I have now arranged our first night's watering hole. .......and the showgirls just put up the white flag 
and hightailed it back to Paris. So a more measured approach has been taken. We will be staying at LeParc hotel in Salbris which is about 35 miles south of Orleans and 214 miles from LeHavre. We should manage this in about 6h30m of riding not allowing for stops so should get to the hotel around 16:00 or so. Read about the hotel here and the map below shows its location (note to fishbird, the hotel is on the existing MapSource route) 
There is secure parking for the bikes in an underground garage.
.......... and a glass of Chateau du Margaux Pavillon Rouge methinks
Looks absolutely grand oldrascal + secure parking you are spoiling us well done and thanks
Yes... that looks splendid
After an easy first-day ride like that, I look forward to treating myself to a nice warm glass of Blue Nun
in preference for some local hooch. Let's face it, after the 5th bottle of whatever we order, we won't be feeling any pain anyhow. 
:
Given that we will be sharing a room with one or all of our fine travelling companions that is the Gastrobash would it be advisable to take the following: earplugs, gas mask/face mask, surgical gloves, oxygen, Wellington boots and tweezers/cork.
Or..... none of the above........... just earplugs
