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 …
Day Eight of the trip and seven of cycling, I’m now about 80 mile south of Paris on the way to st etienne, and boy, are french roads long and empty. Foul headwind yesterday to pay me back for sailing into Paris last week driven by hailstorms and gales from the rear. And today it’s … Read more …
Crosses by the roadside remind that this is also the old pilgrim route from the middle ages to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, though sadly I won’t be going that way this time. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device Read more …
Travelling along the Loire day before yesterday (Sunday 31st March), came across two nuclear power stations within 20 miles of each other. Steam? Lots. Carbon footprint? Virtually nil. A reminder that France gets over 80% of its electricity from nuclear, much less controversial here than chez nous. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device Read more …
Hope to make to Vichy today, on 10th day of cycling and 11 days into the trip. All going well, knees included. I hadn’t expected a sore achilles tendon, but hey, what’s Ibuprofen for anyway. And travelling in France at lunchtime has its compensations.See photo! Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device Read more …
Two things to note from this pic. One is that the sun is at last shining. The other is that a very hard, brand new Brooks B17 saddle has indeed “broken” as it’s meant to. See the slightly creased double indentations on either side. They’re the imprint of 500 miles of bum bones (mine) grinding … Read more …