After yesterday’s ride, and highly sophisticated supper of takeaway pizza and wine from paper cups, we slept like the dead, waking at just after 6, getting ready to go on again. The first thing we did, was look at the weather forecast, which was still showing that there would be rare showers in the morning, … More Saddlebag of Memories… Day 11… Toulouse to Carcassonne
This morning started early, when we pulled up the blinds of the beautiful Chambres D’Hote that we had stayed in in Pons, and sat in bed watching the swifts playing around the church tower behind us. We sat, scouring the weather forecasts, trying to see what would be the best route to take, as we … More Saddlebag of Memories.. Day 8 … Pons to Coutras
Last night, after a long day’s ride and a superb, much-needed supper, we ambled around the Vieux Port and collapsed into bed, sleeping like babies until just after 7, this morning. The thought of having a day off had taken away the early-morning wakefulness, when normally we’re alert, planning the route and getting everything ready. … More Saddlebag of Memories… Day 6 … A day off in La Rochelle
I can hardly believe that I’m writing this, but we’ve just got back from supper by the old harbour in beautiful La Rochelle, after another amazing day on the bikes. The day started early, as we had been staying in a beautiful home on the salt marshes, just north of the Ile de Noirmoutier and … More Saddlebag of Memories.. Day 5 .. Bouin to La Rochelle
If yesterday was a good day on the bikes, then today has been even better, and quite emotional too. We woke early, as we knew we had a long day ahead and left the beautiful and very comfortable Chambre D’Hote before breakfast, being seen off by the donkeys and emu, in the garden … Yes … More Saddlebag of Memories… Day 4 … La Gacilly to Bouin
What a day …. Apologies for not posting this last night, but after a full day”s ride we turned up at our delightful Chambres D’Hote in Caurel and got chatting to another couple, who are also touring on their bikes and ended up having supper with them too. So by the time we got back … More Saddlebag of Memories Day 2 .. Roscoff to Caurel
What an incredible first day’s ride we’ve had from East Devon, across Dartmoor to Plymouth, and I’m writing this, now that we’re through check-in and waiting to board the night ferry to Roscoff. I’ve only just admitted to Andy that I was actually rather worried about today, as I’d only ever ridden as far as … More Saddlebag of Memories Cycle Ride…Day 1 over Dartmoor to Plymouth
The days are ticking down and after so many false starts, it finally looks as if our long-hoped for ‘Saddlebag of Memories’ bike ride is actually going to happen. It’s nearly 7 years since Andy rode the Velodyssey with the boys on a Moor to Med cycling adventure down the west coast of France, whilst … More Cycling with a Saddlebag of Memories… 2 days to go
I hope I’m not tempting fate by writing this post, but if all goes well, in a little over seven weeks time, we will finally be boarding a ferry at the start of a cycle ride from our little place in Devon, back home to Provence. I mention that we may be tempting fate, as … More Planning to cycle with a ‘saddlebag of memories’
Last week Andy and I were sitting at Menerbes overlooking the view when two people on electric bikes pulled up beside us and were trying to identify the villages on the hills opposite. We got chatting and they explained that they had just hired the bikes and one said how wonderful it was and that … More Beyond the Veloroute #13 – Incredible Roads, 2 Cols and Wow just Wow!
Postcards from Provence and beyond 