With the bike ready, we headed south to Corps - only about 70km. Our hotel for the next 2 nights is in the main street with the route of the Tour de France going right passed the front door. There are flags criss-crossing the streets and it looks like this little town is ready - we sure are! Corps is a pretty little town on Route Napoleon. This famous road was the route followed by Napoleon on his return from exile in Elba in 1815 on his march to Paris. The town has many visual reminders of this event with murals painted and attached to many buildings.

We spent the afternoon watching Stage 17 on TV, had a look around town and had a cold beer. We scoped out a good viewing spot for the morning, with the Caravan (cars with people throwing goodies in to the crowd apparently) due to go through town at 11am and the riders due to appear about 1:10pm, we might even manage a sleep in. After a delicious dinner (Greg says it was the best pizza he has had on the trip) we settled in for the night watching Criminal Intent on TV - in English with French subtitles. We hoped the rains that hit town late in the afternoon would be gone in the morning.

Today was Stage 18 of the Tour. Corps is 35.5km from the start at Gap. The riders would leave Gap at 12:20pm and were expected in Corps at 1:15. This stage is 186.5km ending in Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne. The highest point is Col du Glandon at 1924m. The stage is expected to finish about 5:20 pm. We chose a viewing spot just across the road from our hotel as there was a place to sit. We purchased the required baguette - essential for Tour de France viewing and settled in to wait. The street was closed to traffic and a local Gendarme at the end of the street blew a whistle every time traffic was approaching. There was a steady stream of press vehicles and team support vehicles flowing passed until the "Caravan" arrived on schedule at 11:15. The caravan involves about 160 vehicles representing the teams and their sponsors. There were 5 or 6 vehicles with each sponsor and people on board threw goodies in to the waiting crowds. We snaffled a couple of hats, key-rings, wrist bands, muffins, juice and lollies. Some people were lucky enough to grab t-shirts as well. The caravan took 35 minutes to drive through town!

Then we waited again for the main show!

Again, there was a steady stream of vehicles through town and the crowds on the streets steadily built up. A group of Aussies arrived for lunch in the restaurant next to where we were sitting - on holiday just for the Tour de France. They gave the local children some posters for the Aussie team - Orica-Green Edge and taught them how to cheer for the team.

The first riders appeared in the street at 1:15. This group consisted of about a dozen riders who are the 18th stage leaders. They were followed by about 20 vehicles with bicycles strapped on top - just in case they are needed. Then about 5 minutes later the peloton arrived consisting of all the other riders. Amongst this group was Chris Froome (in the yellow Jersey) who is the tour leader. Again, the riders were followed by numerous team support vehicles, medical vehicles, police and TV reporters.

Then they were gone!

What else was there to do, but find a nice spot for a beer and reflect on the experience we had just shared. This is one more thing ticked off our bucket list.

The afternoon was spent watching the rest of the race on TV. The stage was won by Frenchman, Romain Bardet from the Ag2R la Mondiale Team, followed by Pierre Rolland (also French) and Winner Anacona from Colombia (yes, Winner is his name). We also spent some time planning the next part of our journey. We are heading back to Scotland for another week or so to enable us to rest up before visiting Scandinavia - we think!