The final kilometre counting

Hello all 

here are the final days kilometres. David and I finished this afternoon after another 100+ km day and what was the worst section for hills, one after the other along the coast from the south side of Bayonne to Hendaye. Really tiring especially after 142 km yesterday. We had a couple of hours to spare for out train to Bordeaux. The night here then an early train tomorrow to Tours. 

Total 1172 km in 12 days

Regards

Chris

2015 kilometres

Day 01     81     81  Roscoff - Carhaix

Day 02   131   212  Carhaix - Josselin

Day 03   116.  328. Josselin - Blaine

Day 04     67   395  Blaine - St. Brevin

Day 05     96.  491  St. Brevin - La Barre de Monts

Day 06.    69   560  La Barre - La Sables

Day 07   116   676  La Sables - La Rochelle

Day 08    108  784  La Rochelle - Royan

Day 09      82  866  Royan - Maubuisson

Day 10      60  926  Maubuisson - Arcachon

Day 11    142 1068 Arcachon - Leon

Day 12    104 1172 Leon - Hendaye

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Miles and miles of forest for 2 days

Days 9 & 10 update

Day 9 

The morning was spent get the rear pannier carrier on Chris's bike replaced which fortunately was carried out at an InterSport store (and given as a birthday present from David). Once done we used the ferry from Royan to get across the estuary. After that the 80 km was quite easy with the best bike trails we have had so far. Tarmac the whole way on cycle lanes or dedicated bike roads getting up to 32 km/h on some sections and being able to cruise at 24/25 km/h. Arriving in Maubuisson presented a few hills, something we had not seen for a few days, leading up to the lake side town. 

Dinner at the lake side town was in a pizza place called Pizza Marina, which was the best calzone we have ever had (see the photos). 

Day 10

Back on tarmac bike trails again today and heading for the 3rd ferry crossing to get from XXXXXXXX to Arcachon. We did the 58 km by 1:30. A great little ride mostly through pine forest with lots of small up and downs. Only problem being mosquitos, which managed to bite while we going on the up hill sections. 

So our shortest day and in the hotel by 3 pm, so it's ice cream and coffee now and a rest before dinner, then it's 130 km tomorrow and our last two days. 

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Day 10 distances

Day 01     81     81  Roscoff - Carhaix

Day 02   131   212  Carhaix - Josselin

Day 03   116.  328. Josselin - Blaine

Day 04     67   395  Blaine - St. Brevin

Day 05     96.  491  St. Brevin - La Barre de Monts

Day 06.    69   560  La Barre - La Sables

Day 07   116   676  La Sables - La Rochelle

Day 08    108  784  La Rochelle - Royan

Day 09      82  866  Royan - Maubuisson

Day 10      60  926  Maubuisson - Arcachon

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Chris

Photos over the last few days

Photos Day 10

New bike rack ! The journey continues !

The damage!

The ferry from Royan

Chris considering a new velo !

Or perhaps this one !

The best calzone on the earth 😄 ....before 

During .....

After ! 

3rd boat trip across the Archachon bay

Royan at sunset

Day 8 update

Sorry to all reading this

Blog.  We have been a bit short of updates for the past few days, it's a combination of long days and wanting to get out to sample the delights of Les Sables d'olonne. 

So in no particular order. 

I suppose yesterday is the critical day. 10 km into the day we discovered Chris's pannier rack had developed a severe crack, to the point only 1 cm of metal was holding it on. After some thought we load the bags onto David's front rack (many thanks to David) and the broken bit onto the handle bars of Chris's.  We then continued for the next 100 km to Royan. 

The day's story did not end there, part of the trail was temporary and so rough we turned around and back tracked to a road. In fact some of the roads we cycled were worse than previous sections of off road!!!!!

To finish the day off David had a puncture with about 25 km to go. 

But to make up for it, Royan is very picturesque and we had a good dinner on the sea front (pictures show it all). 

So this morning it is off to find a bike shop that is open, it is a bank holiday here?

Sent from my iPhone

Chris

Distance update up to day 7

Hi

Another long day yesterday. But probably the best day's cycling yet. All different types of road and trails, warmest day yet and down to a single layer for the first time. The area north of La Rochelle is the largest, flattest piece of land. It looks like fields are measures in square kilometres instead of acres.

Kilometres

Day 01     81     81  Roscoff - Carhaix

Day 02   131   212  Carhaix - Josselin

Day 03   116.  328. Josselin - Blaine

Day 04     67   395  Blaine - St. Brevin

Day 05     96.  491  St. Brevin - La Barre de Monts

Day 06.    69   560  La Barre - La Sables

Day 07   116   676  La Sables - La Rochelle

Sent from my iPhone

Chris 

Day 5 kilometres added

Day 01     81     81  Roscoff - Carhaix

Day 02   131   212  Carhaix - Josselin

Day 03   116.  328. Josselin - Blaine

Day 04     67   395  Blaine - St. Brevin

Day 05     96.  491 St. Brevin - La Barre de Monts

Chris

Photos Day 5

Day 4

Day 4

We left the Nantes-Breast canal behind a went due south from Blaine on country roads to get to the Le Pellerin ferry to cross the Loire instead of going to Nantes and coming back along each bank.  Nice countryside and sunny. Lunch at Le Pellerin from a patisserie and then into a strong westerly headwind, which became a real struggle. Made it to St. Brevin early at 3:30, so plenty of time for a clean up and relax before dinner, repair the puncture from yesterday. 

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Chris

Day 3 update

Day 3

We spent the day trying to doge showers and succeed for the most part, but ended up very wet on arrival at the hotel. Chris had a puncture with 4 km to go and in the time we lost fixing it, the rain came in just as we arrived in the town of Blaine.  It was a long day after a late start trying to get the bikes clean after the previous day in the rain and stock up on some nibbles for breaks.  We were out from 10:30 to 20:00 coveted 131 km, the last 30/35 from Redon to Blaine were a on really difficult surface and need a lot of effort to keep going at 18 km/h. 

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Chris

The Score on the door after 3 days

Day 01     81     81  Roscoff - Carhaix

Day 02   131   212  Carhaix - Josselin

Day 03   116.  328. Josselin - Blaine

In km
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Chris

Day 3 Photos

Washing the bike before we start. Apparently it makes it go faster !

I was going to buy Chris a present but decided against the idea! 😄

The weather today ....

10 mins later !

Day 2 Photos

Day 2 on the road

It rained on and off for all but the last hour of riding. At one point after lunch we had to shelter behind some trees as it was coming in sideways. After lunch (super pear and apricot tartlet) at Mur-de-Bretagne we sort of lost our way for a while and end up more east than we wanted and then had a cross country trek to get back to the canal. Arrived at Josselin at 6:30 pm after 10 hours out on the bikes.  Staying at the same place  as 2 years ago, very nice house at the top of a not very nice hill (in riding terms).

Chris 

David wrapped up

Day 1 - Roscoff to Carhaix

Weather was fine. 81kms although some slow moving traffic as can be seen from the following picture. 

Soon disposed of the bouchon and we were on our way!

After arriving in Carhaix we were greeted in song by three bronze statues. Nice Bretton music.

Made it to Roscoff

Even found a new bike ! Not so sure about the optional extras though ! 

Showing interest during a break although moved on quickly since I figured the fence was a bit light weight.