So, the reasons I love France:
Cycling
This section of the Velodyssey has taken me past seafronts, through forests, beside canals, across rivers, into impressive cities and pretty towns and along pretty, quiet, flower filled roads. Dreamy. I'm aching less and there has been no rain, just glorious sunshine all the way. And hardly any gravel!
Here are a few sights I have seen...
Arriving in Pornic
Muddy coast line
Cycle tourers galore
These are huge. Spot my bike.
Cycle paths galore through forests. If you're quick you catch glimpses of the sea on your right every few minutes.
Lighthouse at St Gilles de Croix
La Rochelle
A church in Rochefort
A river between Rochefort and Marennes
A glimpse of the sea from one of the forest trails
The lighthouse at Point de la Coubre
Marshes approaching Marrenes
Food
As well as my 'rice surprise' cooked up on my trangia most nights (a rice dish renamed by my brother meaning rice with something) I have enjoyed a few meals out.
The Menu de terroir in Brittany. Crepe with cheese, egg and ham. And a mug of cider to accompany it.
Very good fish at L'Auberge des Rochelets - St Brevin les Pins
Moules frites for lunch en route one day- this is all the rage on the coast since Nantes.
Whole fish in La Rochelle outside in the sun
People
This week has been much more friendly than last and has recharged my extroverted batteries sufficiently for me to survive a few more days alone!
Not strictly French but I met him in France, my favourite cycling buddy so far has been Janes who is on a big cycling tour from Dublin back to Hungary via France- in only 3 weeks! Anyway our cycling speed was equalised by his ridiculously overpacked bike so we had two super fun days cycling together before he took a different direction to me and headed towards Bordeaux. We were a good partnership; I waited for him and donated sweets to keep the spirits up while he fixed his punctures (3 in two days!). In return he was patient when I was feeling exhausted and cycling slowly and at the end of each day.
I learned my lesson in how to pack lightly on a cycle tour last year when I was determined to carry five books with me for the duration. I learned my lesson and now Janes has learned his.
Here we are.
I also left Le Velodyssey briefly and stayed at LPO (Spring Harvest Holidays) for a night due to various connections through friends. It was full of the friendliest people I have ever met! I was well looked after by lots of people I'd never met before. They fed me, checked my bike and stocked up my food supplies for the journey. Lucky me.
Beaches
Beach after beach! Some wild, some pretty, some huge, some packed...and some just mine! I am swimming at least once every day, making sure that swimming stuff is packed near the top of the Ortleibs for easy access.
Pretty - St Brevin L'Ocean
Huge - Point Espagnole
Packed
Just mine - St Hillaire-de-Riez
French!
A welcome surprise on this trip is that I'm enjoying learning French! In fact I am so desperate for friends that I have no option. I have got over my getting-a-foreign-language-wrong-fear (most of the time) and am making sure that everyone I meet teaches me a new word or phrase. GCSE French is proving quite useful for the basics, plus I have two willing teachers back home who are helping out via text and email (thanks Alice and Sara!).
This week I will get to Biarritz and will have a few days of beach time too. Can't wait.
Distance so far: 990km
Route so far:
Emily, I am loving this so much. Sounds like an incredible trip. You are incredible!!! xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a good read - I can feel your freedom in every word! Glad you're enjoying learning a language. This seem like a perfect trip for you and I am so impressed with how far you've travelled! Xxx
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