Day 29 - Vitry le Francois to Epernay -Ride total 2,232 k, 14,792 m

What began as a normal sort of day - a good getaway from the Hotel to find a bakery (coffee) for the Boys and then back on the Canal for all but a few km's, consequently we made really good time and stopped at Chalon en Champagne for morning tea and as much as I like the raspberry topped cakes I just didn't need one as I was still gettin over breakfaset so opted instead for a simple croissant and a cup of tea. We made our way back on to the canal path and the route basically said no change for the next 30 km's, so off we went. Along the way we stopped at a loch to regroup and while we were there a couple of Frenchmen rode in on their road bikes and also stopped for a breather. Now they were probably older than us however that and a language barrier does not stop some people from trying to converse (in our case Peter, today). The Frenchman began a very detailed discussion with Peter (all in French) while Peter carried on an equally in depth conversation (in English) - Peter said he had no idea of what the Frenchman was on about and by the look of it I am sure the Frenchman had no idea what Peter was on about. About 25 km after that I noticed that Peter was not wearing his backpack that he likes to ride with! As he was 100 meters or so in front of me and getting along at a good clip it took me a few hundred metres to pull him back in and ride up alongside and pop the question "Peter, where is your backpak"? By now, you no doubt have answered the question for Peter? Of course if the backpack is now no longer with Peter then it would have to be back where we stopped for morning tea! 27 km back behind us. Bugger! Peter about turned at that point and headed back while Stephen and I carried on for the next 10 km to Epernay, where we found a nice Cafe and had lunch. It wasn't as if we turned our back on Peter however, it does not take three men to collect a backpack and Stephen and I still need to eat in order to be a support to Peter.It also allowed us to do some research on Peter's behalf as to trains between the two towns and let him know the details. Over lunch Peter phoned to let us know he was back at the Cafe and while the backpack was not there the person who had found it had left their number and was in the process of returning to the Cafe with the backpack. Half an hour later the nect call is from Peter to say he has the backpack albeit minus the 60 euro in cash. Good news being he had his credit cards and most importantly his Passport. And, yes for those avid readers of my travel blog you will recall a similar incident playing out in 2019 in Eastern Europe with a similar ending (backpack returned minus the cash returned after being left behind). Unfortunately back then this was the first time anything like this had happened on one of our rides and before that backpack was returned Peter cancelled his credit cards and Passport. This time round we knew not to do that (and if it happends to you then do put a HOLD on your credit cards and there's no immediate concern about your passport as unlike the credit card it takes some time to launder and sell a Passport on the Blackmarket). Fortunately the Passport was not cancelled and as it was returned there was no becoming a stateless person in a foreign country for Peter and no need to find an Australian Embassy and go through the rigmorol of having a temporary passport issued. Peter arrived on the 4:15 p.m. train and we escorted him, his luggage and his backpack to the Premierer Classic Hotel where we are staying tonight. All in all, today will once again be remembered as one of our more memorable days on this ride I am sure.