Day 7 of Tour: Saint-Brevin-les-Pins to Les Sable d'Olonne

Day 07: Thursday 11th June 2015   -  Saint-Brevin-les-Pins to Les Sable d'Olonne 

Today's Ks': 167.80  Total for Trip: 733.22 ks'

St Brevin another little beautiful port with a castle, something like in a fairytale. You'd nearly wait to see would a princess be coming out in her carriage....wake up, you're typing your blog. Sorry strayed a little :-) The fact is all the castles, châteaus that I saw, appeared to be in excellent condition, amazing given the age of them.

Today was going to be one of those days that I would be on trails, roads, travelling through wetlands, the sea front and was just a great day and by the end of the day I would make up for the shortfall I had hadthe day before. The weather again was great and although I had initially got burnt I was managing not to any longer . Also I was getting past the sore muscle stage, although my I.T. band to the touch, was sore, I was no longer walking like a gun slinger after getting off his horse, after a twenty mile ride.

Today was one of those spins that just happens, but yet you don't remember it, other than it was a beautiful spin with everything for the senses. 

I saw a castle, windmill, a lighthouse and even a fine bird....relax a stork.

Now all the above are beautiful but sometimes following the route wasn't as easy as anticipated. Over the last few days, as I explained in other posts, my gps wasn't always that helpful, but sometimes the signs were just as bad. 

Some regions were great and you had arrows on the road and good signage.....others...lets just say, I took a few wrong tuns. Some signs said, left or right, and you turned THERE & THEN, whereas, others meant the next turn. In the end I decided if I went wrong, I just kept going until I found a sign for my next town.I had a breakdown of my days route on my handlebars to guide me.

Then there was the gps routes and signs not aligning properly, whether it was, I was reading things right or not. Again I went with one or the other and stuck with that. It had become an adventure, and I was just going with the flow.

I was following the sign under the big one, yup the little orange square and no they all didn't have the wonderful green sign above it but I believe that is the way they are going with over time as the big signs were brilliant and saved me on more than one occasion.

Riding a long the coast, there were beautiful beaches and my final destination of the day was Les Sable d'Olonne. I loved cycling along the paths on the coast and through the forest and dunes but I thought it funny on one path there was an obstacle, but they painted the branches red to warn of the danger....surely it would have being easier just to cut it???

Some more pictures from today and then all is left for me to do, was find a place to rough it. As I was on the coast, houses etc stretched for kilometres, and so I had to cycle a few kilometres outside and then just take a random road, away from the sea. I would remember this night...read on..

A few kilometres outside of Les Sable d'Olonne I took a turn away, as I said, from the sea and then cycling down that road. Another few kilometres I found a narrow side road and took it. Luckily a few hundred metres down there I found a quiet field with crops in it. 

There was a perfect spot just inside the field a bit, but unfortunately people had been using it as a toilet.

As it was getting late I had no choice but to stay here, so I decided to set up tent away from the bad area, and more towards the road. 

I off loaded the bike and starting pitching the tent, when a car came along...,.so I had to move the tent back towards the field again. I no sooner stated with the tent when a buzzing noise appeared and slap hit it.....a mosquito had bit me. And then the attack began......here's me waving my hands around like a mad mad, slapping wherever I got bit and all the time trying to set up the tent. With the tent set up I just threw all the panniers into it and followed in myself sealing the outer and inner layers but those little ba£$%£rds were in between the outer and inner layers.

 I was safe....BUT they had the last laugh because I hadn't eaten. Not risking it I took a chance and cooked my tea inside....chicken and vegetable soup with pasta added and tinned makerel (obviously not added). The only problem being my first attempt at cooking I knocked the pan off the stove and the contents went all over the place....so couldn't risk it today. All went well and as for the mossies...John 1 mossies two but that was to change the next morning when I woke and the mossies went up to about 50. The back of my head was just covered in bites and my arms and legs too, so they won. 

And to add insult to injury that night........a thunder storm rolled in that people had been warning me about. Ah well, it's an adventure.

And before I go I nearly forgot. Today while out on the roads I met a lovely 65 year old French man who was travelling around France by electric bike a present he had got from his family for his birthday. The bike could do a 100k daily and that's what he did., staying in b n bs nightly. We bought a ham and cheese baguette in a small bakery and a cake and had lunch together in the village church square. He with his schoolboy English and me with my schoolboy French...was lovely

.

More to come tomorrow....keep smiling :-)

Day 5 - 6 of Tour: Redon to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins

Guenrouët castle

Day 05: Tuesday 09th June 2015  -  Redon to Nantes

Today's Ks': 124.5  Total for Trip: 480.72 ks'

After a great nights sleep and packing up camp I headed back in to Redon to join the velo route again. Today was sunny and the route took me a long the canal  and where I saw a lot of boats slowly cruising up the canal both of us waving and shouting bonjour to each other. The surface was not too bad, patchy in places but no bother. Today my knee was hurting me so I purchased a knee support which gave great relief.

My first village was Guenrouët  where I stopped to have a rest a view the beautiful castle above. It was funny today because for the last few days I've being cycling with canal for a good part of my day that I tended to day dream but unlike the other days today the canal twisted and turned and at one stage I nearly cycled straight into the canal on one of the twists only just missing a wet dive by centimetres but I laughed for the next few kilometres about it.

On I went to Blain where I took a detour into town to have lunch. I found a lovely little pub where the locals were having their wine. I did get funny looks, especially as I was wearing my bright yellow Cookie Monster jersey and a few comments were made when I entered and I'm sure if they were translated would be something a long the lines, will ya look at that gobshite in the Cookie jersey. The owner of the pub greeted me and I asked for the menu and a cola.....ice cold in the bottle, there's nothing better. 

He pointed to the board saying no menu, that's that what was on. Explaining to me in his little English, I went with pork and then was asked what sauce.....sauce....I just have bisto gravy normally but you can't get that here. So I went with chance when he pointed at some alcoholic stuff. Although I don't have alcohol in anything never mind drink it, I said what the heck and boy was I glad. The sauce was white, with a light creamy texture and the taste.....oh my God it was delicious and I poured it over my chips when I had eaten the pork. It was wiped off the plate with every movement of my fork.

Not having dessert I decided time to get back on road as I was there for an hour and outside I met a guy who was travelling for years on his bike and we had a great chat. You can view his website here

Then it was on to Nantes, where I was staying with a family through Airbnb. The whole way into the city there was cycleways which is just unbelievable. I was on one side of the city and needed to get to the other and again my gps and I didn't agree and as usual sent me up a hill I didn't need to do. The reason being I was under the bridge and in between the two major support columns there was a pathway that you wouldn't even notice. Eventually after asking a few people to help I spotted a cyclist go there and I followed and was back on track. In the cities I totally relied on gps. The house that night was fantastic and a bed.....how I missed a bed. I had a great shower, charged my batteries for my electronics and my hosts even washed my clothes which meant I'll be good to go the next day. I spent the even chatting and contacting friends and family and then to bed. Each night regardless of whether I had wifi, I text one of my friends to update them of my position, usually around half nine. 

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Day 06: Wednesday 10th June 2015   -  Nantes to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins

Today's Ks': 86.70  Total for Trip: 567.42 ks'

After a nice sleep in bed and a lovely breakfast it was the usual routine of repacking the bicycle and off across the city to try and rejoin the velo. The velo has three gps routes for the entire route and unfortunately it took too long long to load so I followed the roads to the city centre.

 

started at front of bike but then went to back

What a beautiful city but big and I was lost without the gps. Stopping and pulling in to the path I had the only real bad moment on my trip. While trying to sort the gps I suddenly felt someone at tugging at my bungy cords on panniers. Turning around I saw a teenager trying to steal Cookie from my bike. He ran across the road to his group who were shouting and jeering me. 

I was very annoyed but was out numbered so left just taking a random road. Good thing I really secured him to the bike. To be honest I was extremely angry but at least all was fine. Eventually my gps kicked it and I made my way out of the city passing under one of their traffic bridge and boy is it impressive. 

My first stop after Nantes was Le Pellerin and it is where I got one of my most unusual images of my trip.....Coueron La Maison dans la Loire and no it 

wasn't a bad choice of accommodation on my part :-)

Coueron La Maison dans la Loire

Le Pellerin also offers what's rare these days and its a free ferry service across the La Loire....thank you, very much :-)

On to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, which wasn't going to be my final destination today but getting lost in Nantes changed all that. From here the route took me on trails by the river, small roads and it is where I saw the most wildlife, small eagles, storks, little birds and loads of dragon flies and the sounds of crickets. The one I got the most fright is when I saw a giant rat on two occasions but on checking it out, its a coypu (ragondin) or still a rat to me.

pic: http://www.francethisway.com/wildlife/ragondin.php

Today had a lot of different scenery and one of my favourites were the fishing huts I saw .

 They were dotted all over the place. I imagine when the tide is in they lower

the nets but I'm only guessing as to how they operate.

and while I think of it the one thing of notice was the way traffic behave towards cyclists.  They try their best not to intimidate you or force you off the road and actually wait until it's clear to go. Somethimes I was saying to myself will yo just pass me already....but very courteous. There are signs on roads warning them to give 1.5 metres and also that cyclists are on the road.

Today for the latter part of the day two young lads and myself just kept
 passing each other out until I met them in the tourist office where it was funny as all three of us had knee pain in the same leg and all wearing supports bought in France. These two yong guys were English and thought my flag was Italian. We ended p in the same camp site that night and had a good old natter, all of us suffering with sore muscles and asses lol and all understanding how each of us felt.


One of the guys only decided to do this a few weeks before and bought a second hand bike for £100. He said he didn't have a ground mat. I said if it was any consolation, I had a self inflating one but it doesn't work. Luckily for me his friend had the same one and showed me how to use it. Sleeping in the tent was a lot different as a result of this. 


That's it for now, to be continued..........


Keep smiling :-)

Day 3 -4 of Tour: Roscoff France to Redon

Day 03: Sunday 07th June 2015  -  Roscoff to Pontivy

Today's Ks': 177  Total for Trip: 239.22 ks'

sunrise from ship

05:00 The automatic alarm on the radio kicks in and repeats to make sure you rise and shine for the day ahead and berthing into port for 07:00. This wasn't a problem for me as I was half asleep anyway, so up and Adam and got ready. Decided not to have breakfast on board, that I'd have it in Roscoff instead. The day looked like it was going to be a great one.

As I was leaving the ship, the Swiss girl and I decided to have breakfast before she hopped on the train to gain a few hundred kilometres, as she was stuck for time. We cycled into town and then my first experience of the French pâtisserie where I sampled their local delicacy, a little bread made with sugur and butter, and it was heaven....yum yum :-) After breakfast I said goodbye and now I was  ready to begin the Euro Velo route 1 or as the French call their section La Vélodyssée. 

Morlaix

So the Beast (my bike) and I headed for our first destination Morlaix. I didn't get on the velo for this section bur followed the roads where I eventually met up with the father and son from the ferry and we travelled together to Morlaix . As we travelled along their was a few kilometres of road closed before the town due to some race being on but we never figured out what kind, as the road was filled with cyclists, runners, walkers, roller bladders, long boards and skateboards and everything else you can think of that hasn't an engine.

Everyone said hello to us and then we saw Morlaix with its beautiful viaduct crossing above the town.....just magnificent.

Here we separated as they were going around Brittany, so I headed for Carhaix but my gps didn't exactly help me and I took a wrong turn and of course I was directed up this mother of a hill to set me right. It was to steep for me to cycle so I pushed and even at that I had to stop twice to get my breath. Got to the top and cycled a little only for the gps to say off course pointing me back down the hill and this was to repeat again when eventually I spotted a little pathway near top of hill and the gps liked this.......yes I was off and before long I was on the trails

.

The trails were to change to dense forest trails to everything in-between and for a good few kilometres out of Morlaix there was a a rising gradient . Maybe another day without the gear on the bike it mightn't be as bad.

There was joggers and walkers on the early part but then that fizzled out to the odd touring cyclist and I was alone to contemplate my thoughts. After Carhaix my next main destination was Pontivy.. In Côtes d’Armor, the trail follows the canal. 

I can't remember how long I was on the canal at this section but it was beautiful before heading away from canal again. On one on the trails you head down this STEEP decline to Guerlédan dam and I love hills but I was literally stuck on breaks and barely moving going down here. Then we were back on the canal with all the lock keepers houses scattered every now and then. Now there's one lasting memory that I have of France and I'll never forget and that is that France shops shuts down on Sundays

pic: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/12/france-sunday-trading-debate

This was to impact me hard by mid afternoon when I ran out of water and food. I was so thirsty I was actually parched and eventually I spotted an elderly couple leaving one of the lock houses.....where I begged "L'eau, l'eau, s'il vous plaît". She filled my one and half litre bottle which I knocked back in one go. With that she refilled it and took my other bottle too. I thanked them and was grateful for their help. Still hungry but no longer thirsty I headed for Pontivy and arriving around seven or eight.....I couldn't find anywhere to get food.

Deciding I'd better find a place to camp I headed out of town and then a miracle happened. There before my eyes was a pizza van.....yes I'm saved. Now bear in mind it would probably take me a year to starve as I've enough reserves stored to last that long. I ate a whole margarita pizza and it was divine.

Continuing out of town for about three kilometres I found a crop field for my first ever night of wild camping (stealth camping) and indeed my first night on my own camping full stop. The trick about this kind of camping is to be discrete and blend in. Hmmmm I was screwed unless I could find a maize crop as I wore a bright yellow helmet, with a yellow Cookie Monster jersey and just to be sure my panniers had yellow reflective covers on them........discrete or what?

I quickly got myself to a corner of the field and set up tent asap so that I wouldn't be spotted. The good thing was no dilemma with tent like the first day....it went up perfect.

Now all I had to do was survive the night alive and hope no marauding biker gang was around looking for lone cyclists camping alone. 

As tired as I was, I barely slept as I was listening to every noise outside. Obviously I survived but it was a tough night plus my ass hurt as I was wearing an compression shorts under my bibs and with all the sweating I got a bad rash. So not only was it a long night, I also had an ass like a Japanese flag....white on the outside with a red middle :-) Oh the joys of cycling

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Day 04: Monday 08th June 2015   -  Pontivy to Redon

Today's Ks': 117  Total for Trip: 356.22 ks'

Woke up early tired but had to quickly pack up camp and remove ALL evidence I was there. Off I headed back into Pontivy dumping my rubbish in bin before returning to cycle path. It was a flat day and windy in sports but it started off well with the canal track tarmaced and a break from the trails.

but yo do have to watch out for the occasional obstacle

I was flying this morning meeting the odd tourist cyclist and eventually connecting up with a father and his son who were credit card touring on their racers (paying for everything by card and staying in hotels and carry hardly anything). I asked his 20+ son how did they survive some of the trails yesterday and they had decided to skip them. 

Todays view of the day was that in Josselin.....the amazing castle....wow !

 Today also I had one of my funniest interactions. As I said above my ass was extremely sore from a sweat rash so when I spotted a chemist I headed in to ask for cream.....the server with no English and me with no French. I wanted baby rash cream and with a few "it's a move, it's a book" actions and a lot of laughing, I came out happy and I'm sure she's still laughing about a bald red headed man in a yellow Cookie Monster jersey looking for cream for his ass :-)

After my experience of yesterday I now carried 3 by one and a half litres water at all times and a pack of rolls and tinned fish so no problems like that. In fact the day was going great until about 40k from Redon when the surface changed to a sandy type substance. At this stage I was back with the two English guys but I had to leave them off as the weight of the bike was just tough with the surface and I was going nowhere fast. Actually that was one thing I learned on the trip. I had trained on main roads and had averaged 18-20 kph but on the tour I was only managing 13-15 and an odd time only 10k. Once I accepted this the tour was grand, as I could only go a fast as I could on that day

.

Taking my time I reached Redon and decided to look for somewhere to stay. Spotting a municipal camp site I headed for that, only to discover it was closed this time of year but luckily for me there was a little lane way running down the side of it so I set up camp there and headed for food....again only finding a pizza outlet. I decided that I wasn't going to get caught by siesta any more and that I would eat at lunch time too. No pizza, nuggets and wedges tonight.

After eating although early I needed to sleep as hadn't had proper sleep in days. I didn't care if a marauding biker gang was about or not, once they closed tent I was fine. Within a few minutes I was out for the count and ready to begin a new day.

The story continues .............

Keep Smiling :-)

Day 1 - 2 of Tour: Waterford to Cork

waiting for car ferry at Passage West

Day 01: Friday 05th June 2015 - Waterford to Youghal

Today's Ks': 0  Total for Trip: 0 ks'

Day 1, and I awoke to a horrible wet and windy morning, with a 75.5 k journey ahead of me. Three others were going to cycle some of the way with me, before heading back home. We were all in contact with each other and it was decided that I was getting a lift down to Youghal, rather than getting a wetting and that the next day I could start cycling. The funny thing was by the time we left the weather had turned, although it was still windy. On the way to Youghal we stopped in Leamybrien for a coffee ....well there was a strong headwind afterall :-)

From here Deirdre returned home by bike (as we had put her bike on rack in Waterford). She later said she flew back with the tailwind. Michael and I headed on to Youghal, where I stayed in the Old Imperial Hotel. It was a lovely small hotel with fantastic rooms.

To be honest I was glad I was not cycling as I had being up all night in anticipation of my trip and had even re-packed panniers around four am to reduce load. This would be reduced even further a few days later.

Around tea time while I was eating, I received a phone call and was met by two more friends who were heading for an adventure race in Dingle but took the time out to stop in to me. In fact I've received great support and encouragement, before, during and after my trip from loads of people and it's very much appreciated.

Tough day in the saddle, NOT :-)

I went to bed early, with another check of panniers just to be sure.

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Day 02: Saturday 06th June 2015  - Youghal to Ringaskiddy Car Ferry

Today's Ks': 62.22  Total for Trip: 62.22 ks'

Day 2 was here and the cycling began. I headed for Cork via Carrigtwohill and Passage West car ferry for the Ferry to France. The wind was tough this morning and I had it the whole way down which was a pain but I gave myself loads of time by heading off early, way ahead of ferry time, just in case something went wrong.

My plan today was to arrive at ferry in Ringaskiddy and buy sandwiches etc for Ferry to cut back on the cost for ferry food but I was never there before and by the looks of things either was any shops to speak of. I asked someone that was cutting their grass where was the local shop and he directed me to one up the road a few 100 metres. This shop might be the in thing in the seventies but with no lights on and very little on shelves I quickly bought a packet of fruit pastilles and exited. Sandwiches, I would be lucky to get a can of peas in date, I'd say

With that I saw a bus stopped and asked the driver for directions to a shop where I could get fresh food and sandwiches and he said there's one in the next village and it's only 2k away. I then said that wouldn't be the village at the top f the hill I just came top and obviously the answer was going to be a yes....this theme would be the norm throughout my trip :-)

Off I went as loads of time. Back up the hill and if you know me, you know I don't do hills :-) Back down and waited for the ferry.

While waiting I I met up with a few other cyclists, who were going to Europe. One a Swiss girl who was after cycling from her home to Ireland and then around Kerry and back then to her home. And she cycled all the way in jeans......no padding, not a chance.

Next, I met a father and his 13 year old sun who were heading to Brittany for two weeks. It was funny to see the different styles of bikes and gear that we all had. Mine was the heaviest, as I was camping and they weren't.

At two o'clock we boarded the ferry, where our bikes were tied up to the hull. I headed for my bunk and lay down for my overnight trip. I was glad of the bunk, as it was so much easier to have a place to rest yourself, especially as I don't have sea legs. 

The next day Sunday, I would begin my tour proper.

Keep smiling :-)

1 Days Until Trip - Day 159 of Training / Diet

Not even 1 day left as I type, so I'm  giving a quick update. Yesterday and yes I was cutting it fine, I decided I'd better once and for all set up the tent, a two person one I bought for the trip....the 1 man would be too claustrophobic. 

Anyway, I unpack the the tent and for those of you who do not know me, I'm not technicaly minded.......for example, when the kids were small I hammered in the screws for the child locks in the kitchen as using that screw-driver was wrecking my head. 

Yesterday in front of me I had a bag of pegs, no bother there, a bag with 2 sets of poles that are kept together by internal elastic and an ouster and inner sheet....no bother, I'm Mr D.I.Y. 

I set up the two lot of poles and as one was long, I presumed. obviously it goes length ways, so I stick in through some loops on the inner sheet but didn't work and then where was the other pole to go. Take two I realised I obviously had to bend the poles through the loops on either end.....so tried that. A few attempts later as I couldn't get the inner sheet to look like anything I remembered in the outdoor shop.

So I gave in after a few "fs'" and maybe a couple of other words too, and off down to the camp shop. In the window was a tent in mid air, not even pegged down and it was in the shape of the tent so I explained to the guy I wanted mine to look like that. 

the correct way...eventually :-)

I was sent upstairs to look at the same model I had and he told me to take pictures. Then I discovered and he confirmed that the poles go through  the outer sheet first and once that was up you hang the inner tent from that....easy when you know how.

I get home and with new confidence I tackled this challenge again......and not the ten minutes it should take but with some extra time and the sweat pouring out of me, I finally get the tent up.....the only hope now is that practice makes perfect :-) If it was on video it would have been some laugh.

Hopefully, smoother operation from here on in :-)
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In case you're wondering what exactly I'm bringing, here yo go:

The various weights are listed above too so as you can see, it all adds up. Here's the bike fully loaded. If I was to change things I would have bought the bigger pannier set but the price jumps up significantly so not worth it unless I was to do it more regular. We'll leave that judgement until the end of my trip.

the "BEAST"

Bye for now, keep smiling :-)

3 Days Until Trip - Day 156 of Training / Diet

Busy Handlebars

I''m into the final stages and everything is going okay and according to plan. 

Today I got my bike back after been serviced by Spokes Cycles and she's ready to go. She's had an extra bottle holder added to handlebars so that I can access my drink easier as the one on the down tube is hard to get at while moving and the bigger one (the 1.5 litre) is for storage only or can be accessed once stopped. 

It's not about the bike looking pretty , it's about practicality and this holder can be removed once finished trip.

Busy handlebars but plenty room for all. The reason for the two GPS is because I got a new one that has navigational capability - Garmin Edge Touring, which can guide me to camp-sites and if I want the route but I have the route typed and laminated and plan to use that instead but have the other as backup should I need it. The smaller one the Garmin 910xt is to show me the regular data I use while cycling. For those of you wondering about the handlebars, they're known as butterfly bars and the give you the option of different handlebar positions just like our regular drop bars. 

I've lined my panniers insides with heavy duty bin bags to make sure they're waterproof and dust free. Everything is ready for packing and all electronics are currently charging. People have being asking what I'm bringing and here's a quick list;

• tent
• sleeping bag
• mat for sleeping on
• burner and gas
• utensils
• bike repair stuff
• Electronics: camera, notepad, iPod, 2 GPS's, iPhone and chargers
• 3 Biscuit Club jerseys & shorts
• some casual clothing
• and whatever I can think of when packing :-)

Tomorrow I'll pack up bike and what's in is in and what's not, well it'll be tough luck.

And another couple of things people ask is what charity I'm doing it for and who's going with me and where going from and back from.

Not doing it for charity at all and it's not an organised event. I'm doing t on my own and camping most nights ( hotel 5 nights, Ferry 1 night, camping 10 nights). I'm cycling to Cork and getting ferry to Roscoff France and no not on trainer on ferry, I'll be sleeping. I'll be cycling down the coast of France to Bilbao in Spain, where I'll be flying back.....total if I cycle it all is around 1600k but as said before if needs be I'll hop on train if I'm not feeling one of the days. That's it, until the tour and if I get a chance to update during it I will, if not I'll fill ye in on my return.

Keep smiling :-)