Back on the road, from St Etienne and John Laxton’s place (old Uni friend, shared a room ’68-’69 at Leeds) to youth hostel at Lyon, whence this blog. Lovely to see John and his delightful Eng/Am Lit professorial partner Denise after so many years, and especially amazing to be treated by them (thanks!) to THE … Read more …
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device No words… Read more …
Wow, has today been one of the best riding days ever, or THE best riding day ever? Sixty miles down the upper Loire, through stunning volcanic gorge after stunning gorge, from Le Puy north towards St Cyprien near St Etienne and my old university friend John. For those with a technical bent, 60.24 miles, av … Read more …
Riding a bike for a long distance is very much like a meditation. Life, love, the universe etc. For those familiar with EMDR, there’s something powerful about the bilateral brain stimulation of left pedal, right pedal, left pedal, right pedal ad infinitum, keeping one anchored in the present. Tom in Paris asked, what on earth … Read more …
This is my patent baguette protection and conveyance system. Rolled in my sleeping mat. Works perfectly. (Though note somewhat compromised photo quality when reworking 17 years later for this new blog design in 2025.) Even kept (most) of my pain (if it this big, I’m told, it’s actually a pain and not a baguette) dry … Read more …
And finally for today, not sure whether this picture will come out, but the view of Le Puy coming down the hill from the west is stunning. Three volcanic plugs with medieval churches or absurd statues on top of each. Raven of course pushing her way in to the picture foreground as ever. Le Puy … Read more …
Photo here is of amazing cathedral high up in the Massif Central in Chaise Dieu today after Arlanc where stayed the night last night. (On which subject, THANKS Michelle, who as fellow passionate cyclist picked me up on the road just before six o’clock last night and offered me food and lodging out of the … Read more …
Right – having sent out a load of emails to friends and family Today saying I’m now officially doing this blog, many of you have replied with the most wonderfully supportive and interested messages. Many many thanks – and indeed the reason i’ve decided to go with this blog and open up a bit about … Read more …
The extraordinary thing about France, I’m finding, is how often, as in almost always, everything in the countryside is shut. No wonder the economy is in such a state, and why Sarkozy is trying to change things. Shops shut at lunchtime for two hours, regardless. It’s almost As if they don’t want to be bothered … Read more …
Warm thanks to Nathalie (sorry for the spelling) and to Anne in Vichy for the most wonderful welcome. Nathalie takes in foreign language students; and I guess I count with my struggling French. And Anne, sadly not pictured, is perhaps France’s leading trainer in journalism and trauma. Hence the connection. And thanks too to Pascal, … Read more …