Day 4: Beating the Heat Through the Indre to Lunch in the Brenne

Join us on day 4 of our cycle tour from Provence to Roscoff, with a very early start to beat the heat. Pedalling through the beautiful villages of the Indre, on our way to the Brenne National Park, stopping for a welcome and delightful lunch in a small village café. 4 days of pedalling and 379km ridden so far. … More Day 4: Beating the Heat Through the Indre to Lunch in the Brenne

Provence to Roscoff by bike – Day 3: Hérisson and the Heart of France in a Canicule

Day 3 of our cycle ride from Provence to Roscoff took us through the medieval streets of Hérisson and across the geographical centre of France, in the high temperature of a canicule. Between shaded river valleys, quiet country roads, and the symbolic milestone at the heart of the country, it was a day defined by heat, yet reinforced the simple pleasure of moving slowly through France by bicycle.
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The Secret Rose Garden Hidden in Provence

Tucked among the dry, sunbaked hills of Provence, Les Jardins de l’Abbaye de Valsaintes feel like a secret discovered by accident. At Valsaintes we visit an unexpected rose garden, blooming in the middle of the rugged Provençal landscape. Fragrant pathways, climbing roses, and quiet abbey views and a natural spirituality make it one of the region’s most magical hidden corners. … More The Secret Rose Garden Hidden in Provence

Join our bike ride :Day 3 Exploring the Gard and finding Orchids

In the great scheme of things, Pezenas isn’t really very far from Provence, so we had always planned to have a day off, on the way across, and Sommières seemed to be the perfect place for it. It’s a beautiful little town on the River Vidourle, with a castle, wonderful cobbled streets, and a fantastic … More Join our bike ride :Day 3 Exploring the Gard and finding Orchids

Join our bike Ride: Day 2, Beaucaire to Sommieres

After a glorious evening on the boat we had rented for the night,  watching the sunset along the Rhone-Sete Canal, at Beaucaire, we woke this morning to grey skies. They weren’t enough to dull our spirits, and after a slow morning, enjoying coffee on the ‘poop-deck’, watching the day start around us, we loaded everything … More Join our bike Ride: Day 2, Beaucaire to Sommieres

My First Paris-Roubaix: Dust, Drama, and Pure Cycling Chaos

After years of watching Paris Roubaix and Paris Roubaix Femmes from the comfort of the sofa, today, we finally watched the racing from the side of the cobbles, on the Mons-en-Pévèle sector. Sometimes events fail to meet expectations, yet today blew our expectations out of the water, and left us wondering why it had taken … More My First Paris-Roubaix: Dust, Drama, and Pure Cycling Chaos

Up close on the Pavé: Watching the Paris-Roubaix Challenge Riders

Yesterday was about being a tourist and sightseeing in Bruges. The rest of the weekend is about the Paris-Roubaix. It started today, with a full day walking sectors of the route, watching the amateur riders taking on the cobbles, at ‘Pavé du Nouveau Monde’ and the iconic sector of the ‘Pavé Mons-en-Pévèle’. It would be … More Up close on the Pavé: Watching the Paris-Roubaix Challenge Riders