Rain, heat, humidity ..........

We are now in Confolens about 25kms short of our intended target in a pleasant hotel by the river Vienne. Since Brassac-Quince much has happened. The day to day milage has been interupted by rain, heat and humidity and decisions have to be made.

From Brassac we had a great days cycling through the wine area of the Loire. We followed the river for  30kms or so through Samur to a campsite in Montsoraux. This was about 5km north of Fontevraud with a famous Abbey - apparently it is world famous for something but I am not a churchy type of guy so you will need to ask Gilly when you see her - I was more interested in the Loire rose wine - which incedently I have half a caraffe in front of me now (the other 2 members of the team are asleep I think!!!!). The weather forecast was for rain and lots of it. It rained over night and the tipped it down all the next day - we stayed put - definately not cycling weather. A young Belgium couple who were camping near us decided otherwise and I hope they are safe.An old boy (maybe twice my age) stayed put but his cycling probaby puts us to shame - he was cycling the Loire Cycle Route from the source to the sea at St Nazzaire - great to see, hope I am like him in 20 years time.
On taking my tent down on Friday a pole broke - not sure why as it was not under pressure - I had a broken pole a year or two back and I now carry 4 pole repair sleeves which is just as well as the adjacent pole broke as I was putting the tent up in Parthenay.

We have started moving south now - I always feel the Loire is the border for the cool damp weather to the north and the warmer weather to the south. - I guess we should be careful what we wish for. We had a helpful wind and I feel I am getting stronger.
Parthenay Dist 84.86. Odo 468.0 As you can see it was a long day - the longest yet.

Saturday 29th saw us continuing south. The temperature saored to 35°C very hot for cycling and we all suffered - not enough water etc. but we arrived in Lustigan in good time.
Lustigan Dist 45.25 Odo 514

Yesterday was again 35°C + but for warned ...... we drank at least 5 bottles on the way. Gilly has learned the phrase to ask the barkeeper to fill our bottles. We met a fun group of walkers who wanted to know which football team we suported - rugby I said  Ha! He said we stuffed you at the weekend - did not know the result. We arrived in a delightful town of I'Isle Jourdain with a hugh viaduct and a small municiple campsite. There were an English group in the campsite going home on Monday - good fun and directed us to the centre of town for food and bars, as did the campsite lady.  We wandered around for over an hour, everything was shut." Of course it was", I hear you cry "what do you expect in small town France on a Sunday". Well we did hope for a bar or something. This has happened to Gilly  an I before - we should learn but we are getting old.
Dist 59.8 Odo 573.9

Today Monday 31st looked like it was going to be a cooler pleasanter day. After scraping around our bags for some morcels of food last night, we shared a few nuts, a little cheese, some hot chocolate and 2 apples an 3 peaches we scrumped from someones garden we were knocking on the supermarkets door at 9 o'clock. Pan au chocolate, some very nice pastry thingy's and some frankfertery sausages. We needed some energy.

The cycling so far has been anything but easy. Not much flat but rolling countryside. Some of the up rolls have been very chalenging and in the heat particularly energy sapping. John's bike has different gearing to mine and Gilly's, our bottom gear is much lower than his so we can tackle the hills better. Today the hills got to John, I guess the lack of food, the dehydration of the last couple of days and cycling without respite has taken it's toll. He twisted his back a few days ago and, although it is improving I am sure it has not helped.
We shortened our day and have holed up in Confolens in a hotel by the river.
Dist 33.88 Odo 607.8.

Some challenging riding.........

Stormy weather or what. We did not become storm bound as thought but set off on Monday morning with various plans. Between Craon and Chalonnes-sur-Loire,which was about 65km there was 1 hotel at 20 kms and a campsite at 45km. Plan A was to get the whole way to Chalonnes, plan B was to get as far as Segres and the lone hotel. The forecast was for heavy showers and 25knots of wind gusting 45knots from the south and we were heading just east of south. We made it to Sagres and sheltered for 40 minutes behind a wall as a strom passed over. We set off into an ever increasing wind but a wind that had started veering and was still comming from ahead but more over the right shoulder. Gilly had a bad tumble on her bike in Scotland in similar conditions and so was quite rightly a little apprehensive. The ground was very rolling  and the wind from the right was pushing us into the centre of the road in front of overtaking cars. Not for the faint hearted. We pushed on and stopped for lunch when the wind seemed to increase more. We were in a park under some poplar trees - as they blew over bits were flying past us so we decamped into a nearby bus shelter and waited for conditions to improve. I was just sitting there when I noticed my two companions were very quiet - they were fast asleep!!!! I left them for a while and as the wind started to ease a little we pushed on. If the conditions were not enough to contend with a local farmer took revenge on us - he was muck spreading in a field next to the road - speading stuff from a chicken farm and in the wind we were covered. We stank and little bits of stuff were all over us and down our shirts - we were not happy bunnies!
Still we ploughed on to Chalonnes only to find, because of the weather, all hotelsChambres were full apart from one which was 5km out of town. Camping was not an option so off we went,stopping off at a supermarche on the way as after 70km of hard and challenging riding nobody wanted to cycle bach into town for supper.
The Chambre D'Hote only had one room - room for 3 - when the little said roll over
, we all rolled over - a good way to get to know your brother-in-law! Eventually he got into the single bed in the corner. There was an Austrian lady staying, travelling for 3 weeks or so - she had never been to the UK but told us how bad our diet was as we have such bad fatty breakfasts, how bad our weather was - too much rain,  very expensive, no bakeries so only bad factory made bread, lousey cheese and so it went on, we on the other hand said nothing about Austria as only John had visited for a short business trip. I could understand why she was travelling as a single lady!!  What a day and we all felt great as you do after a challenge.
Dist to Chalonnes-sur-Loire  72.85km

Today, Tuesday was a much more relaxing ride. We followed the Loire up stream for 20 or more km not always in sight of water but on pleasant country roads on and off islands in the centre of the River. We had lunch looking at the old bridge acroos the River at Les Pont de Ce. It was another windy day, overcaste with drizzley showers. We were planning  to camp but the weather again was not conducive for tents.
We stopped early in Chalonnes at a bike shop where they took John's bottom bracket to bits and sorted it out - hopeful the problem is now solved.

I am definately a hotel man as opposed to Chambre D'hote. Our landlady,as much as she was nice and helpful talked for France and John & Gilly both talk for England - tonight a hotel and some peace & quiet!!!
 We are in Brassac-Quince, a pleasant town on a hill with a Castle/Chateauy thing.
Dist 39.9 km Odo 330.1km
We now have over 300km in our legs and the daily cycling is definately getting easier, whether I am thinning down into a racing snake is another matter - now we are in the Pays de le Loire we are into the wine and the cidre is left behind.

About to be storm bound.....

I am really glad we were in a hotel last night - lots of blitzzen and it came down in bucket fulls. To hot to have the windows shut so lay there and listened. The forecast was for it to stop at 1000 and it did so off we set on wet roads and continued south. More corn fields, lots more cows and a few chickens and goats. We have slipped out of Brittany and are now in Mayenne. It is appears that this is the part of France that is the butt of all their jokes - lucky there is not many folk living here - we saw at most a dozen people all day.
The weather got better all day and this afternoon we were in sunshine with a few clouds. The folk seem friendly despite me flying a white ensign on my bike and wearing a union flag cycling cap - at least they all speak English to me straight away.
Vitre was a medevil town with half wood terraced houses, cobbled streets and lots of touristy resaurants.
The forecaste is not good. We are expecting storms tonight and tomorrow morning with 25 gusting 40 knots of wind tomorrow from the southwest - just where we want to go - not good cycling weather.
Our very good landlady from last night in the Hotel Le Petit Billot spent much time sorting us a hotel for tonight and here we are. In Craon. The pronuctuation of Craon involves the sound of gathering all the spittle and saliva you can and forcing it down your nose - we avoid saying Croan.
The day 3 syndrome of tired legs etc. are all gone and cycling should get better from now on. Having said that the guide says that the terrain gets a little more rolling now - we already thought it hilly.
John's bike needs more work - it is the same problem as he had a couple of days ago - his bottom bracket is working loose and needs specialist tools to fix. Bike shop tommorrow I guess.
Dist 42.66km Odo 217.4

Rolling through Brittany...

It is now Saturday and we are cosy in a small hotel in Vitre - not that it is cold, in fact it is 30deg but it is wet - yep p....ing down and we are expecting a bit of donner & blitzen laters.  The last couple of days should have been flat according to our book but it has definately been undulating (a simple word that really means hilly). Once out of the main towns we have been on quiet country roads past farms, fields and horsey places. We were in Fougeres last night, great municiple campsite with all the facilities. In the evening we rode back through town to square beside the chateau and had the "menu Breton" - fantastic buckwheat crepe with ham, cheese and fried egg all washed down with plenty of Breton cidre. The cidre is very drinkable and all of us had more tonight.
Today was day 3 of noteable distances and, as in all adventures, day 3 & 4 are always difficult. Your body is getting used to the daily exercise and your mind is still wondering if you can do it and there is still 1400km to go. This was a typical day 3 - John's legs were feeling tired and a couple of the hills beat him - not that it mattered as Gilly and I were in the bottom gear and he was walking almost as fast as we were pedalling!
We have decided on lunch on the road - french bread, cheese and tomatoes, fruit and nuts. Simple but nice.
Heading south tomorrow we hope but rain is forecast for the morning - we shall see.
As for me I am doing OK no LMF and I feel I am cycling better an a couple of years ago in the States. I now have clear pipes around the heart and have done my training both on the bike and in the gym. The dissapointment is that Gilly is still beating me on the hill but watch this space.
Dist to Fougeres 41.81kms and to Vitre 37.1km Odo 174.7

Stretching our legs

Hi Ho.

We are in Pontorson about 10km south of Mont St Michel - in good spirits - and still speaking to each other - this must be a good sign.
We all met up on Monday evening in Poole and stayed at in  old naval buddy's house. Some had an uneventful journey, others who came by train, John, had an interesting time. His train was cancaled due to a broken train so had to go to a different station, despite having a gps machine a phone with google maps and a background of map reading what should have been a 25 minute journey at most was nearly 2 hours - excuses - it was all hot air!!!

We left at 0500 to catch the Condor ferry - no problems and a very flat crossing to Guernsey and a couple of hours stop over. We were having coffee and John asked the very pleasant waitress what do you call someone who comes from Guernsey expecting a reply like 'Guernseyian' but she said A Donkey and she said it was better than coming from Jersey who are called Crappos. Learn something new when you least expect it.
We arrived in St Malo and after a few false starts ended up in a very busy campsite overlooking the harbour and old town.
Wednesday morning the adventure started - on the road by 0840, down to the old quarter and off - along the sea front with fantastic views of St Malo. We cracked along the coast roller coasting from bay to bay until Cancale - oyster capital of this coast and probably France. A little shack by the beach sold a dozen for €5 - we were just about to order when the seller sliced open his hand while opening the oysters for the folk ahead of - we slid across to the next vendor - fresh oysters with lemon - fantastic!
We could see Mont St Michele 20 miles across the bay  and off we pedalled - flat warm and pleasant under  cloudy skys. Pontorson and a very good campsite. We notched up over 60km on the first day - we were all wilting towards the end but LMF has been left in England and the motto 'show no weakness' was to the fore.
Today was a there and back ride to the Mont along a cycle path from the campsite along the river - twas good until we arrived at the parking area when we fought with another 100 or so folk to get on the shuttle bus. When arrived at St Michele we join a few thousand who got there before us. They reckon 4million visit each year phew!,
We leave the coast tomorrow and head south. John's bike needed a mechanic - the guy from the hire shop here at the campsite was terrific and my bike needed abit of sorting. We are all fixed now and rareing to go.
Dist - 96 km

France - get prepared we are on our way!!

Hi Ho Yous Folk.

We are in the final preparations for our next journey. This will be a little less strenuous and a little less adventurous than our last couple of trips but should be no less enjoyable. We are cycling from St Malo (northern France) to Nice (southern France) - 1000 miles or more or 1600 km ish.

About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with a dicky ticker and during the last trip down the Pacific Highway from Vancouver to Mexico, I noticed that things were getting worse - for one thing Gilly was beating me up the hills!! I went back to my cardio man and the outcome was that I had a bypass op. I have spent the last year trying to get my body working and strengthened and hopefully I am now sort of OK perhaps not back to my fighting strength but well on the way. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am fit jenough to do the daily mileage without getting too tired.

A new body requires a new bike - I am the proud owner of  a Genisis Longitude set up as a trekking/expedition bike with 700c  wheels.  True to form, Gilly wanted a new bike  as well - she now has a Trek 7.4 also with 700c wheels. .John, Gilly's brother,  is joining us for his first long tour, he has spent a week in Holland, a long weekend on the Isle of Wight and joined us on the Severn Thames trip a couple of months ago. John has gradually upgraded his bike from a basic Raleigh 8 geared bike to a touring spec bike.

Sandy's                                Gilly's                       John's