Month: April 2011

Prepared for a cold night so slept in my thermals, hoody and socks. Got too hot this time, typical

Got off to a good early start just after 8am. There has been a head wind (southerly) now for quite a few days and it’s really starting to annoy me. My trip to La Rochelle would have been much quicker and easier if it wasn’t for this.

Most french main roads are long and straight and disapear over the horizon. Todays route was no exception. With a constant headwind this doesn’t cause great cycling conditions.

I stopped for something to eat in the centre of La Rochelle but got upset when a waiter told me I couldn’t leave my bike outside. I think i may have swore at him before finding a sandwich shop round the corner.

Was very busy in La Rochelle, lots of people in restaurants paying over the odds for some terrible meal. Gimme pasta and chopped tomatoes any day!

Arrived early at the hotel, allowing me to charge my gizmos and pop to the Lidl up the road.

Stayed another day at the campsite in sables d Olonne because I liked it so much. Spent the afternoon drinking with a french guy called Jeremy I think. Then went for a swim in the pool before dinner. Was a totally relaxing day doing absolutely nothing!

Jeremy said he would cook me tea but as I had to eat what I had I invited him. We dined on pasta and chopped tomatoes and shared a quarter of a bottle of wine. Happy days.

Somehow the mosquitoes managed to get me on my wrist, knee and ankle in the night. Ive never seen bites come up like that before (Ive included a picture of my arm). I was really cold in the night too so hardly slept. Woke up to another gorgeous day.

It seems to be taking me too long to pack everything away. I think it’s because I have to take everything out as opposed to unpacking just what i need. Also, I’ve noticed my liquid fuel (Coleman Fluid/White Gas) is going down quite quickly and I haven’t seen anywhere to buy any.

Was just a short 60 miles to Sables-D’Olonne which went quite uneventfully. Was going to attempt a boulangerie crawl but gave up after my second croissant.

I’ve also noticed that the French seem to like putting road diversions just before the end of my ride. Just what I need!

Staying in a 4 start campsite with a pool. As today was supposed to be my second rest day I might have it around the pool tomorrow instead. This place has hot showers too. Damn it, give them an extra star!!

Its been a week already. I think my body knows it as I slept to a whopping 09:30 this morning and actually slept well.

After making some porridge and a coffee I spent the morning washing clothes and cleaning my bike as well as some bike maintenance. Although everything is looking pretty good mechanically!

It started to cloud over slightly in the afternoon but fortunately all my washing dried.

Rather than have two rest days at that campsite i decided to just have the one. The facilities aren’t great and there is nothing to do. So tomorrow I’ll make my way towards Sables-D’Olonne

Didnt sleep as well as Id have liked. Got woken up to the sound of some french love making in the room nextdoor.

Just a short trip to the coast from the hotel using mainly minor roads.

Stayed in a campsite on the coast on the port of Du Collet. Showers are freezing and the swimming pool (which I was looking forward to) is under refurbishment. Very quiet here though, which is good.

Stocked up for the evening with beef steak, cider, beer, wine, crisps, peas, mushrooms, water and carrots

Today has been so tough. It started off well but after helping out a French guy with a puncture it all went downhill, what happened to karma?

The day started well. It was overcast and a bit chilly but I made good progress out of Rennes and joined the river Vilaine. Followed this for a good few miles before it just ended. So I decided to follow the GPS straight to Redon. En route to Redon I stopped at a fantastic, friendly restaurant who filled me up with fish, potato, salad, beef and ice cream!

There was a traffic diversion that added an extra so many miles onto my route before I finally hit Redon, and after a quick stop at the tourist office I was on the Brest to Nantes canal towards Nantes.

This is where I came across a fellow cyclist in trouble who had no idea how to fix his puncture. After fixing it, I carried on towards Nantes. Realising I wasn’t going to make it before bedtime I left the canal and joined the roads. This is where the fatigue kicked in and I really started to struggle. Then, when I did finally get to northern Nantes all the hotels were booked. After a quick text to my amazing fiance she booked me into a hotel in the centre.

Gonna have a bit of a lie in tomorrow as I’m not far from the West coast now. I’ll probably camp there for a few nights to give me chance to do some bike maintenance (it needs it) and some washing.

First of all, Happy Birthday Mum!

The day started off terrible. I’d camped next to the sea and there were gales during the night keeping me awake. Not just that, but I was freezing, even with my thermal undies on.

Getting dressed in a sleeping bag isn’t easiest trick to master. I just wanted to get away from the north coast as quick as I could. Which I did.

I followed a disused railway from Dinard to Dinan. Absolutely gorgeous weather accompanying the beautiful countryside, and not a soul in sight.

I then joined the Canal d’Ille-et-Rance all the way to Rennes. Fantastic route, didn’t need to use a single road. I even saw an otter!

Tonight I’m staying in the Formula 1 hotel in south east Rennes as it has free internet and they let me put my bike in my room. Bike is looking a bit dusty though, I’ll use one of the hotel towels to clean it.

Got up really early feeling very rough indeed. Luckily the campsite was only three miles away from the port. Once again, the weather was looking good.

Boarded the ferry which went to Guernsey and then a quick change for St Malo. At this point the weather changed dramatically; misty, grey and damp.

 

Once arriving at St Malo I cycle to Dinard where I set up camp for the night.

Cycling on the right is weird, you find yourself drawn back to the left hand side. Either that or the weight of my panniers isn’t balanced.

 

After an emotional farewell I continued on towards Weymouth. The weather was hot and I noticed my arms were starting to burn a little. I guess that’s the result of cycling south for two days.

The battery went on my GPS so I had to rely on road signs while it charge, Unfortunately this took me on some roads with particularly heavy traffic all the way to Weymouth. Even so, I seemed to make good progress towards the south coast.

That evening, I got a little tipsy when I was joined by a friend and his brother (you know who you are). Drinking until late and going to bed early morning wasn’t a good idea when I had to be up at 6am to catch a ferry to France.

I woke up early, eager to make my way to Bath. The journey began on the dual carriageway between Alcester and Evesham, which was far from enjoyable. Fortunately, the lovely weather helped lift my spirits.

Once I passed Evesham, I ventured into the picturesque Cotswold Hills. It was at this point that I truly felt the weight I was carrying on my bike; each ascent felt like a battle. However, the breathtaking views at the top made every struggle worthwhile.

After stopping for a well-deserved lunch in Cirencester, I continued along the quiet country roads, navigating through endless fields and more hills.

By the time I arrived in Bath, I was utterly exhausted but thrilled to meet my wonderful fiancée. While I collapsed in a heap on the floor to recover, she graciously set up the tent, making the evening even more special.