On June 24th 2009 Helen and I set off to cycle from Paris to Barcelona. Our route took us 1500 kilometres south from Paris, down the Loire into the centre of France before heading south west towards the Pyrenees where we meet the Tour de France as it crossed the …
View photos on Flickr After a sleep in and a lazy lunch we saddled up for the final leg of our journey, into the centre of Barcelona. It was suitably hot as we rode across the footbridge over the river to pick up the cycle track Gina had told us …
View photos on Flickr The usual morning routine saw us on the road at about 8.30, having decided to push through to Helen’s sister’s place on the outskirts of Barcelona we knew it was going to be a long, hard day. It didn’t disappoint. From Campdevànol the road continued gently …
View photos on Flickr A sleepless night spent listening to the wind and trying to ignore the mosquito bites on my back (40 of the buggers, they got me through my cycling top while putting up the tent) did not set up the day well. Having decided to stay at …
View photos on Flickr We were packed up and on our way by 9am, pausing only to take a picture of the growing pile of rubbish the camper van drivers were piling at the side of the road. I was berated by a Frenchman for taking this photo, I’m not …
Ping! Awake well before the alarm with one thought, today we’ll see the Tour. It was easy packing up as everything was ready to go, but it was hard saying goodbye to Pete and Dee. They had made us feel so welcome and there we’re so many other good things …
View photos on Flickr With Dee due in Foix at 11am it seemed a good chance to be tourists and se we joined her, Pete and Emily over to this historic city about an hour to the east. We spent the morning exploring the impressive castle before finding a restaurant …
View images on Flickr Waking up knowing we didn’t have to pedal was luxury, made even better by the surroundings of Chateau Pouech. Pete and Dee have worked really hard in the last year since we were here to finish the place to a habitable standard and they have achieved …
View images on Flickr It was a pleasant morning’s cycling from the campsite at Roques through to our lunch stop at Cazéres. Flat, quiet roads with views over farmland where corn, sunflowers and hemp were all flourishing and it was fun dodging the sprays from the automatic watering pumps. We …
View photos on Flickr Helen was giving it the big Z’s this morning so I caught up on a few emails while she slept. It had rained during the night (the first time since day 3) and it was still cool and overcast when we packed up and set off. …
View photos on Flickr Having one again consumed a nudge too much wine at the fete it was time to get going and work it all off. We left Larnagol at 8.30 and headed to Pech Merle, famous caves with pre-historic paintings about 25kms away. Janie had booked us in …
View photos on Flickr After a late night at the fete, a lie in was mandatory. Janie was off to a ladies lunch and needed a swim to cool off first so we made for the river. She headed off after her swim, while we went to pick up our …
View photos on Flickr Waking up neither of us could quite believe we had made it to Larnagol last night. It was luxurious to be able to get up slowly without the need to pack up and get moving and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Kettles, toasters and washing machines were …
View photos on Flickr Not really sure I can accurately describe the scale of yesterday, even if I could I’m currently too tired to try. Suffice to say we made it to Janie’s at Larnagol where a welcoming committee, beer, food and a bed were all waiting – I’ll post …
View photos on Flickr It was a day of ups, downs and gorges! The first up was as soon as we started, up and out of Aynat and onto the volcanic plateau that extends like a skirt around Puy de Dome. Like every other day I’d forgotten to warm up …
View photos on Flickr Woke for the sunrise again, it was so stunning I woke up Helen to see it too. Thankfully she agreed! We were on our way by 8.30 in an attempt to avoid the midday heat and feeling rested and refreshed we made good progress. At about …
View photos on Flickr Having decided today would be a rest day I was wide awake at 6am! How annoying was that? Not really, as the sunrise was stunning. Snoozed for a couple of hours before getting up for a lazy breakfast and just enjoying not having to pack up …
View photos on Flickr Packed up and off by 9am but instead of hitting the road (and avoiding the heat) we did the tourist thing and had a look around Bourbon. The castle looks like a castle should; turrets, moat, imposing position all present and correct. It dates back to …
View photos on Flickr The Saint Satur campsite is a tranquil place, the pitches nestled amongst the trees. I woke early and wandered to the river’s edge and it was a joy to watch the mist lift over La Loire as the sun rose. At 8am the baker’s van arrived. …
View photos on Flickr I was insistent today would start with ‘cafe express’ in the town square, and so it did. The ‘centre ville’ of Briare providing the backdrop. An efficient shop and visit to the ‘office tourisme’ saw us on our way, but not without stopping at the impressive …
View photos on Flickr The day started brightly with sunrise across the lake and breakfast on a concrete table tennis table. We were packed up and on our way by 9, but by 9.30 I was faffing with my brakes again. The highlight of the morning was passing through Lagerville, …
View photos on Flickr The first full day of cycling was long but very satisfying. Some bike maintenance first thing saw us set off about 9am, just to stop 5 mins later for breakfast. Then the mission was to it was to get out of Paris, not as easy as …
View photos on Flickr A day of three halves! Firstly to London, watching the green English landscape roll by while fielding questions from clients. The second on the Eurostar to Paris via the refurbished St Pancras, now with more in common with an airport than a Victorian station. The third …