Please forgive any unusual spellings or what appear to be mistakes, I am writing this on a French keyboard in a library, hiding from the thunderstorms) and the letters are in different locations. If I were to write the cat sat on the mat using where the keys would normally be on a UK keyboard…
4th May 2014 The Ride Goodbye Ride & Drinks – What to wear, this time of year is always difficult, you’re going on a big ride and its cold to start with. Leg warmers? Arm warmers? Base layers? Thick gloves? You know that no matter what you wear, it’ll be wrong once you get going…
What do you do and where do you start about getting a bike that would be suitable for a long bike ride or to go touring on? It’s bewildering, when you start to look into the multitude of options there are for choosing a suitable bike to go touring on, what frame material, what gears…
Preparation for a long bike ride, what injections do you need and what drugs should I take with me? Vaccines The vaccines and inoculations were not too difficult to work out, it just took a visit to the travel clinic. After explaining the the trip to the nurse, and that I didn’t know exactly where…
Why? Good Question, Why do this? Why would someone in a secure good job decide to hand in their notice, leave their family and friends behind and jump into the unknown by getting on a bike and cycling off for a long bike ride? Well, where do you start? For me, I found that personally and…
This weekend I decided to go wild camping (or at least for one night with the option of staying at a Camp site one night). I’ve been camping loads of times or at least fishing overnight and I’ve been a fisherman or should I say fisherboy to start with since I was 6 and my…
The return home from Portsmouth on Saturday was interesting, the homeward Headwind theme continued … and got stronger, the cycling Gods were ½ smiling, it was the sunniest it had been all week. Going over Salisbury plain was particularly bad dragging my speed down at points below 10mph! On the way back I came across…
WARNING, 5 HOURS TO KILL ON THE FERRY, IT’S A LONG ONE! Last ride in France today, back to the ferry port in Le Havre. Last night I stayed with Catherine and Claire who I had met through the warm showers website. My hosts weren’t home until 10pm so to I took the opportunity to…
by gplhlTime to leave, say goodbye. Woke up this morning to a downpour. Mmm a whole day in the saddle in the rain. After checking the forecast it confirmed, rain all day. Claire had to go to work early so we had breakfast at half seven which allowed me to get ready and set off…
Last night Claire and Stephane took me to a local restaurant Chez Glandine where we met Christophe who had done several long rides with Claire including LEJOG. Stephane, Claire and Christophe outside Chez Glandine Locally Chez Glandine is legendary serving excellent food at great prices. When we arrived there were several people milling around outside…
by gplhlHaving a quiet day in Paris today with no firm plans of what to do. Woke up somewhen just gone 8 after a good nights sleep. Breakfast was great, Croissant, coffee and plenty of Stéphanes home made bread with butter and jam. I was lent a map of the city and after talking with…
by gWoke up at 6:00am UK time 7:00an French time and headed straight to the restaurant for a full English. The restaurant is at the front of the boat which had a nice view of the heavy rain outside. Docked fine and set off into the rain at about 8:30. Did exactly the same as…
by gplhlDown to the Ferry.. Trip down to the ferry was good. I’d planned the route to be much the same as last years but avoiding the byways. On the way I rode about 5 or 6 miles through some nice country lanes with another cyclist Jacqui who asked if I was going far and…
by gplhlLess than a Day to Go – Devizes to Paris 2013 Less than a day to go now before I set off on my trip to Paris, leaving Devizes in Wiltshire and travelling to Paris by Bike. Last year I took about 55lb of Kit, a ludicrous amount for such a short trip. Last…
Summary Having now completed the ride and with a little time to reflect, I’m really glad I chose to do this ride and would recommend it to anyone with a decent fitness level a sense of adventure and some minor bike repair skills, I’m no mechanic but I can bodge and repair a puncture. Before…
Sorry for the delay in updating the Blog, yesterday and today have been hectic. I arrived back in Portsmouth at 6:30 UK time yesterday.The cabin on the ferry was quite good and definitely a lot better than the reclining seats that I had on the way out. The alarm in the cabin is pre-set to…
Last night I stayed in a Kyriad hotel which is part of the same group that owns the campanile hotels. I’d looked at the campanile in Evreux and Trip advisor had poor reviews. To be fair Campaniles are similar to Travelodges at home. Basic, and no matter which one you stay in they don’t vary…
I started the journey home today. The planned route taking in the palace at Versailles. I got to Versailles with little trouble, getting in with a bike however is impossible. Entrance is via the side entrance to the garden, sailors gate. Once in the grounds I decided to take a ride around the lake. This…
Last day in Paris 22/8/2012 Took it easy today. Went up the Eiffel Tower. I was pleasantly surprised the price wasn’t a rip off. Admission up to the second section (I couldn’t be bothered to wait in the queue to get to the top) was only €5. They had a couple of places to get…
Well, what to say… What a city. So different to anywhere I’ve been before. I’d found out before coming about a tour company that show you round on a bike. The reviews online were good and I wasn’t disappointed. I was the only person who turned up on their own bike all kitted out with…