10 Problems at Abbeville

After a tough day yesterday of 92 miles to Neufchatel en Bray, I slept very well and started Monday at 7am by doing my washing (by hand!) and used the dryer to get it ready to wear as I cant hang it out all day. I also managed to sneak some electricity into my sat nav by plugging it into a socket in the laundry room. Breakfast was an enjoyable left over banana x2 and bottled water. Then my first error....... the morning was nice and sunny and I stretched out in my tent while my washing was in the dryer and quickly went back into a deep sleep, waking at 11.30am! I couldn't believe I'd slept so long. I quickly packed up the tent and got underway by 12 which is rather a late start when the stages are quite long and challenging. I had bought a map of Northern France prior to setting off but suddenly today realised that it doesnt actually cover the bit I should be reaching tonight at Blangy sur Ternoise. With no power on my phone and no wifi for maps that could be concerning. The wind was in my face again as it had been for these three days. It was very slow progress. Arriving at Abbeville after 40 miles, some of them being lost, I knew that I could not reach my night campsite at Blangy sur Ternoise. I rode on about three or four miles out of Abbeville in the direction of St Riquier thinking of an alternative plan. I saw a sign for camping and followed it but it was just an old football pitch on which they allowed "wild camping". Not for me. I thought of that episode of Bear Gryhlls when he had to drink elephant's urine to survive and here was I, one step away! Lost, no place to stay, not enough hours of daylight to pedal another 40 miles and pitch camp. What to do? And just then the daily creaking of my panniers gave way to a crack and my front bag fell into my front wheel. Happily I was in traffic doing about 5mph and not coming downhill at 30. It could have been nasty. It looked as though some spokes may have been taken out and the housing for the pannier was bent and now without its cracked bolt. I lifted it off and made a temporary fix with cable ties and a bolt from elsewhere on the bike but it does not look too secure but can't be taken off because the other one at the front of the left side would then make it impossible to steer. I decided to turn around and headed back to Abbeville where I am now booked into a hotel with power and wifi. I need to wash and have some food and then make some decisions on whether I can proceed and how.