cycling blog – Postcards from Provence and beyond

Devon to Provence by Bike : Reflections on a Summer of Adventures.

September 15, 2026

A summer of two wheels, nearly 2500 kilometres and countless memories. From the lanes and villages of France to canal paths, vineyards, headwinds, rainstorms and finally the familiar landscapes of Provence, this was an adventure filled with challenges, laughter, unexpected moments and unforgettable places. Looking back, it’s never about the distance travelled, but everything we experienced along the way that made this cycling journey so special. … More Devon to Provence by Bike : Reflections on a Summer of Adventures.

Devon to Provence by Bike, Day 17: 1000 km Pedalled and Hello Mediterranean

September 7, 2026

Whereas yesterday left us feeling exhausted and just a bit weary, tonight we are sitting watching the boats on the Canal, at Frontignan, in a much more celebratory mood. Today has been a momentous day, on two fronts. We have now pedalled 1042km, since leaving East Devon, and have crossed France from the Coast of … More Devon to Provence by Bike, Day 17: 1000 km Pedalled and Hello Mediterranean

Devon to Provence, Day 7: Soaked to the Skin and a Bike Race

August 28, 2026

Day 7 of our Devon to Provence cycle tour takes a very wet turn as we pedal from Coulon through Poitou-Charentes to Dampierre sur Boutonne. Battling heavy rain, strong winds and increasingly soggy clothes, we discover that sometimes the best cycling adventures are the ones that don’t quite go to plan! … More Devon to Provence, Day 7: Soaked to the Skin and a Bike Race

Route planned, getting ready to go ….. Then we find out the cake shop is closed!

August 18, 2026

The bikes are almost ready and the final preparations are underway for our cycle ride home through France. Everything seemed planned… until we discovered last night, that one of our much-anticipated cake stops was closed! So, with a little last-minute route reshuffling, we’re off to find another way home — and hopefully another slice of cake along the way. … More Route planned, getting ready to go ….. Then we find out the cake shop is closed!

Three Weeks Today: Planning the Route from Devon to Provence, by Bike

August 1, 2026

Three weeks today we’ll be setting off from Devon on a cycle ride home to Provence. In this post I share how we’re planning the route, and the decisions behind choosing quiet roads, and the best places to stop along the way. Whether you’re planning your own long-distance cycling adventure or just following the journey, this is where the ride begins. … More Three Weeks Today: Planning the Route from Devon to Provence, by Bike

Join our bike Ride: Day 2, Beaucaire to Sommieres

April 28, 2026

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

Day 16 … Wet, but happy in Bordeaux

September 5, 2025

Well, what a wonderful last 2 weeks this has been, and yesterday, we pedalled the last leg of the trip through western France, arriving in Bordeaux. We had really enjoyed our couple of days cycling along the lanes around Duras, avoiding the storms that had been a constant feature of the weather forecasts. But, on … More Day 16 … Wet, but happy in Bordeaux

Day 15 … Second breakfast in Marmande.

September 3, 2025

Since deciding to accept that we will just ride from Duras to Bordeaux and avoid the storms that had been predicted, we’ve just relaxed into enjoying our time here. Today, we decided that as we cycled in from the north, pedalled the roads to the east yesterday, and will be riding out west to Bordeaux … More Day 15 … Second breakfast in Marmande.

Day 14 … Exploring the Dropt valley

September 2, 2025

Last night, we had a long chat about the plans for the next few days, coupled with looking at every possible weather forecast we could find, hoping that one may give us (even the slimmest chance) of being able to camp (storm-free) on Wednesday night. But however hard we sought for a glimmer of hope, … More Day 14 … Exploring the Dropt valley

Day 13 … Hiding from the cloudburst

September 1, 2025

We really enjoyed our day off in Mussidan yesterday, and after another good night’s sleep, we were ready to go on again this morning. I had planned various routes to Duras, which we had decided would be our next stop, on the revised route towards Bordeaux. We had the ‘If it’s bucketing with rain’ route; … More Day 13 … Hiding from the cloudburst