Need some ‘Game Management’.

Sunday 10th September 2023. Bordeaux.

Yesterday was a full on day and I must admit I was shattered by the mix of long day, boiling heat, four matches and a little bit of beer. It could be compared with the frenetic start to a rugby match where a team goes ahead and then needs to play in the opponents half and not do anything risky to protect the score line. Well, I need some of that ‘game management’ today!

I started with the self service petit dejeuner at the hotel and I certainly helped myself! By 10am I was on my bike into the city centre. I wanted to see some sights before it got too hot.

You might know by now that Bordeaux is a beautiful city and well worth a visit. On a previous visit Janice and I had. Motorhome breakdown and had to spend a few days in Bordeaux whilst it was fixed….we even had a little cycle tour of the Dordogne whilst we were stuck without a vehicle. It’s probably best ‘breakdown’ we have ever had. Making a good experience out of a ‘problem’ is so pleasing!

Todays ‘game management’ involved buying some food and heading back to the hotel for lunch. Switching on the air conditioning and then I had a lie down whilst watching Japan v Chile (42-12) on TV and then a little snooze. No booze today…..so far!

I went back on the trams to see the Scotland v South Africa and went in a bar. I met a Welsh guy who said he played 150 times for Llanelli in the 80’s and 90’s. Well that would be a big deal. He had a ticket for the Fiji game but he met an elderly couple who had been scammed and their ticket was fake…so he gave them his ticket! I don’t know what the other person of that couple did? Anyway he enjoyed his rugby and we had a good ‘craic’. Sadly, Scotland lost 18-11. We moved to another busier bar and watched the Wales v Fiji game.

Well, it was a cracker. I’m not sure that he enjoyed the buccaneering Fijian rugby but to be fair Wales played an exciting game too. It was probably the best game of the tournament so far and Wales won 32-26. The Welsh chap was mightily relieved to say the least. I did break my vow of ‘abstention’ and I had a couple of pints….who cares?

Overall, I have managed my game plan and the final element of preparation for tomorrow’s cycling is sleep. So, night night, sleep tight, I very much hope that no bed bugs bite.

My final word is…..if you haven’t been to Bordeaux, put it on your list of places to visit.