Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Today's route hadn't made it to my gps and I wasn't feeling up to 155 km anyway so I decided to reroute myself to Sens. Made sense to me...It was very cold and cloudy to start, but once the engine got going after about 30 k, I started feeling surprisingly strong. In the place I had lunch the owner's son was wearing a shirt from the Selecção and I took this as a sign to push on beyond Sens. Bit of a slog at the end but I made it to Nogent-sur-Seine and rode the distance I did not feel up to. The upside of not planning where you sleep in advance...
Monday, August 30, 2010
A ride through a forgettable, rural, part of France. After the bigger hills (still did about 800 m) my friend the wind - cue Demis Roussos - was in my face again. So much for thinking that after the hills things will get easy. After 136 km and almost 6h on the bike I ended up in Cosne Cours sur Loire. Tomorrow morning the temp will be in the 10C range - I've already laid out the kneewarmers! Best!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
A great day on the bike...
Yesterday afternoon/evening I wasn't feeling too strong. The effort of the climbing had gotten to me, and I had made a mistake in taking a lunch that was a bit too light, followed by a late afternoon binge on crisps, a banana and a liter of fruit juice before dinner. I decided to follow the advice of Joop Zoetemelk, that the Tour is won in bed, went to bed early and slept for about 9.5 hours. This morning I felt good and set off early after breakfast. It was cold (I could see my breath as condensation) and so I donned extra sleeves and a windvest and set off. Of course I immediately had to climb, but it was a nice climb and I reached the highest point I will reach in France, at 746 m above sea-level. No sign or anything, just a line on the road with markings for the TL (tour de Limousin?) that I have seen a lot over the past two days. At least someone recognized it as a climb ;-)
Even though there was some tiredness in the upper legs the rest of the day went great. The sleeves came off at some point but the vest stayed on for the descents and before I knew it I was in Chambon sur Voueize, where I had lunch in the restaurant of a lovely hotel called Les Estonnieres. I talked to a French (f)-Italian (m) couple who offered me a glass of wine from their bottle which I kindly refused - Dutch courage is not something I need on the bike. They divided their time between Le Creuse and Charleroi in Belgium, where he (had) worked. She was a languages professor and an Esperanto enthousiast. It would be nice if it caught on - but I think it won't - as I have some difficulty juggling languages on the trip. The conversation was in French by the way.
The last 27 k to Montluçon posed no big problems (like French drivers returning home after sunday lunch with a little bit too much wine) and I finished feeling good after 109 km and over 1100 m of climbing (with a net descent over today's ride).
Checked in at the hotel; washed my cycling clothes and myself and had a quick lie-down on the bed. Not exactly the pro lifestyle as there is no-one to do the laundry for me, or wash my bike, or give me a massage, but then again I can stop whenever I feel like it and am not subjected to gruelling stages and the risk of pile-ups etc...Now it's time for some quick sight-seeing, dinner and another early night - recovery is something I take very seriously.
Even though there was some tiredness in the upper legs the rest of the day went great. The sleeves came off at some point but the vest stayed on for the descents and before I knew it I was in Chambon sur Voueize, where I had lunch in the restaurant of a lovely hotel called Les Estonnieres. I talked to a French (f)-Italian (m) couple who offered me a glass of wine from their bottle which I kindly refused - Dutch courage is not something I need on the bike. They divided their time between Le Creuse and Charleroi in Belgium, where he (had) worked. She was a languages professor and an Esperanto enthousiast. It would be nice if it caught on - but I think it won't - as I have some difficulty juggling languages on the trip. The conversation was in French by the way.
The last 27 k to Montluçon posed no big problems (like French drivers returning home after sunday lunch with a little bit too much wine) and I finished feeling good after 109 km and over 1100 m of climbing (with a net descent over today's ride).
Checked in at the hotel; washed my cycling clothes and myself and had a quick lie-down on the bed. Not exactly the pro lifestyle as there is no-one to do the laundry for me, or wash my bike, or give me a massage, but then again I can stop whenever I feel like it and am not subjected to gruelling stages and the risk of pile-ups etc...Now it's time for some quick sight-seeing, dinner and another early night - recovery is something I take very seriously.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Today I had to climb. A lot. I'm not 100% sure but I think the 1540 m was a record for the trip. The French have been kind enough to just now repave some of the roads with tarmac with a gravel topping. A lot of loose gravel makes for harder climbing and outright terrifying descending. Again beautiful views, and the temperature has dropped to a level more befitting excercise. Stopped in Peyrat le Chateau. No chateau in sight, but a beautiful lake surrounded by hills. One of which I undoubtedly have to climb tomorrow...
Friday, August 27, 2010
Today I spotted the first Dutch cars on the road. This area, Lot and Dordogne is very popular with tourists and I can't blame them. Beautiful countryside. Of course that means hilly, but most climbs were long, steady and gentle. Tomorrow may be different as I will be heading into the Massif Central. For those of you following me on a map: i'm in Brive la Gaillarde. Take care!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Back on the road. After some relaxing days in Toulouse thanks to JC and Anita, and Pierre and Petra, I had a relaxed flat first 70 km with a bit of tailwind. The last 40 k were harder which was basically my own fault - a lot of food during lunch on a very warm day is not a good idea. I'm now heading north, today's stop is in Cahors.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
other photos...
will be entered directly into the webalbum, which can be found here
Today is a relaxed day - slept late, and spent most of the time routeplanning etc...Scotty is receiving some love in a local bikeshop and tonight we will cycle a short stretch to visit other friends in Toulouse, Pierre & Petra. Tomorrow marks the start of the, rather long, second half of the journey. The main challenge ahead is crossing the Massif Central, without getting to the top of too many former volcanoes.
Today is a relaxed day - slept late, and spent most of the time routeplanning etc...Scotty is receiving some love in a local bikeshop and tonight we will cycle a short stretch to visit other friends in Toulouse, Pierre & Petra. Tomorrow marks the start of the, rather long, second half of the journey. The main challenge ahead is crossing the Massif Central, without getting to the top of too many former volcanoes.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Toulouse...
Hello!! As you may have noticed, I have published a lot of posts today. Basically, it's all the detailed cycling data from my GPS, for those of you interested in the exact route, the climbs, my speed etc...Photo's still need to be uploaded but will follow shortly.
This morning I left the Hotel Le Paris in Auch in a hurry - there was really nothing to hang around for, the staff was friendly but the place was a dump. Then I set off on a route to outsmart my gps by 20 km but it had noticed what was invisible on the map - autoroute. After a friendly reminder from the gendarmerie (I was already on my way out) I listened to the gps which gave me a small bonus - I ended up doing 101 km where I could have gotten away with 95 if I had listened immediately...
Again a route through hilly countryside. At one point I saw a doe (as in..."a deer, a female deer") about to cross the road - she ju,ped back into a field of sunflowers when she spotted me - can't blame her. Not much sun today but still warm, stuffy weather threatening rain. Just before finishing I encountered an interesting wall to cycle up and then I was in Ramonville-St Ange; where Jean Christophe was just arriving in his van carrying groceries. JC, his Ana and I had lunch after I showered, the rest of the afternoon was spent talking, routeplanning and doing laundry. I will spend two days in Toulouse and resume cycling on thursday, using pointers from a good friend of JC's who has cycled the entire country and more as a reference.
This morning I left the Hotel Le Paris in Auch in a hurry - there was really nothing to hang around for, the staff was friendly but the place was a dump. Then I set off on a route to outsmart my gps by 20 km but it had noticed what was invisible on the map - autoroute. After a friendly reminder from the gendarmerie (I was already on my way out) I listened to the gps which gave me a small bonus - I ended up doing 101 km where I could have gotten away with 95 if I had listened immediately...
Again a route through hilly countryside. At one point I saw a doe (as in..."a deer, a female deer") about to cross the road - she ju,ped back into a field of sunflowers when she spotted me - can't blame her. Not much sun today but still warm, stuffy weather threatening rain. Just before finishing I encountered an interesting wall to cycle up and then I was in Ramonville-St Ange; where Jean Christophe was just arriving in his van carrying groceries. JC, his Ana and I had lunch after I showered, the rest of the afternoon was spent talking, routeplanning and doing laundry. I will spend two days in Toulouse and resume cycling on thursday, using pointers from a good friend of JC's who has cycled the entire country and more as a reference.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
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Saturday, August 21, 2010
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Friday, August 20, 2010
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Thursday, August 19, 2010
Pamplona
The wine tasting was nice...very nice. But today it was back to business and after saying goodbye to Ana and calling my dad to wish him a happy birthday I set off for about 95 km between Logroño and Burgos. This time with an overall increase in height, and again along the Camino de Santiago. As I started a bit late it was quite warm, but I made good headway to Los Arcos, after about 30 km, where I stopped for coffee and a bottle refill. Then followed the first long uphill section, but very moderate. I stopped at the famous Fuente de Vino in Irache where I availed myself of the free water (the wine is for Pilgrims, which I am not, and I still had a big hill coming up). Took some pictures in Estella and went on to Puente la Reina where I had lunch and practiced my French (merde, ça va mal) with some pilgrims. Then followed a steep climb to the pass over the Sierra del Perdon (the no-mercy pass). Sections of 9% had me struggling, but I made it without feeling to shabby. Hope things go like that tomorrow as well, because coming over the ridge I saw Pamplona in the valley and the Pyrenees in the background. Tomorrow I´ll try to cross them via Roncesvalles...some hero died there a long time ago in history so it´s a fitting place to go...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Rioja
Ola a todos! Today Ana and I are in Logroño, capital of the Rioja, where we travelled to yesterday. Ana was kind enough to take my bags and Scotty flew like...well...before. Maybe the fact that despite some climbing the overall profile was downhill helped too, as well as the fact that I overtook a Spanish cyclist in the last 25 km who then stuck to my wheel and started pulling too - I was in Logroño after 115 km of riding at 30 kph average. Nice!
Logroño is less interesting then Burgos. On the way in I saw lots of pilgrims on the camino de Santiago, which I am now riding backwards. I have to log off now as we have to go to a wine tasting...and I need to plan new routes - a 30 km climb that would rank 1st or hors categorie in the Tour de France is not a good idea with luggage that weighs more than your bike itself - so I´m going to reroute myself over the slightly less high Ibañeta pass at Roncesvalles.
Logroño is less interesting then Burgos. On the way in I saw lots of pilgrims on the camino de Santiago, which I am now riding backwards. I have to log off now as we have to go to a wine tasting...and I need to plan new routes - a 30 km climb that would rank 1st or hors categorie in the Tour de France is not a good idea with luggage that weighs more than your bike itself - so I´m going to reroute myself over the slightly less high Ibañeta pass at Roncesvalles.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
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