France for the weekend

[tjmouse]

Moved.

Richard

=======

£80 Brittany ferries 3 day special was too good to not take up so it’s off to France I go.

Smooth journey down to Portsmouth, lots of holiday traffic but easy filtering meant I arrived spot on time. Only 4 bikes heading out and 3 are GSs.

Anyway grabbed myself a seat by a window and settled down for the next few hours.

 

[wessie]

doing well to filter with "4 wheels or more"

 

[tjmouse]

doing well to filter with "4 wheels or more"

D’oh. Was sure I tapped bike trips. Oh well - better repost!

 

[Wapping]

D’oh. Was sure I tapped bike trips. Oh well - better repost!

I have moved this thread and deleted your duplicate.

Richard

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I have moved this thread and deleted your duplicate.

Richard

Excellent work, mom ami

 

[tjmouse]

Thanks Wapping.


So smoothie crossing.

Adequate fish and chips.

Arrived at the B&B hotel 3 minutes from the port. Very basic but clean with good shower and bed.

 

[tjmouse]

Breakfast. Even in a budget hotel the pastries are great and the juice has fruit in it!

Bikes still in the car park as well which is good!

 

[tjmouse]

Long day today with too many Roman roads at the end of the ride but some great ones for the first 3/4s

Nice and fresh as I set out but the sky was clear and it quickly warmed up. My route was made up by looking for green lines on the Michelin map and joining them together. It worked surprisingly well other than the dead straight finish.

I found a great little cafe near 8 for lunch

Then meandered on through pretty French countryside.

Until I needed a coffee again in a deserted little village

I knew I was on the right road though as I had more bikes pass me sat at this cafe than any other part of the day!

The French really do look after their roads. It does help make for a very enjoyable day out on the bike!

Made it to Angers and checked into my hotel. €58 for the room and $12 for breakfast. There’s a car park over the road with free bike parking so Wren is tucked up for the night with all the locks attached and I get a much needed shower.

Then off for a wander around town, mainly to check out the fort and find some much needed hydration.

There’s some pretty cool old buildings in town as well.

Ahhh … that’s better

 

[tjmouse]

Life is tough sometimes … tonight is not one of those times

 

[wessie]

Life is tough sometimes … tonight is not one of those times

is that 3 types of spud or do you have lemon sorbet with the steak?

 

[tjmouse]

is that 3 types of spud or do you have lemon sorbet with the steak?

That is indeed 3 types of potato! Very tasty it was as well!

 

[tjmouse]

Would you like marshmallows and cherry liqueur with your desert?
…

Sure. Why not!

 

[tjmouse]

Lovely dinner followed by a stroll around town. Lots of people out enjoying the evening and a lovely sunset.

 

[twizzle]

Your wallet and glasses are ripe for a bit of street theft

 

[tjmouse]

Your wallet and glasses are ripe for a bit of street theft

True, although I only move them when desert arrived. I had a table to my right so anyone going for them would have had to walk right up to the restaurant to grab them.

 

[JJH]

Nice work. Lovely pictures JJH

 

[JMacd62]

Nice

 

[Arsey]

Nice pics. Angers used to be a regular haunt but not been for a while.

 

[tjmouse]

Forecast was for a hot one today so I replaced my route to make it shorter as it would still be 5 hours on the bike.

It’s a stunning day and instantly getting toasty warm. It’s been hot here and it looks like the Loire could do with a top up in places

Fortunately it was t all desert views as I hugged the river and there was some water in the narrower sections

Anyway I made it as far as the Château de Langeais by midday and there was a shaded restaurant where I could see my bike. Unfortunately I must have caught some terminal disease yesterday as I ordered a salad for lunch!

Refuelled and cooler I headed off again but the heat was starting to get to me so didn’t stick around much. I got to Blois at 3pm and checked into my rather random hotel for tonight. Very basic but the have a car park I can put the bike in and a bed for the night. The en-suite is split loo on the right and shower on the left which is very odd!

A quick shower and a change and it’s off for an explore of the town.

All that exercise requires some hydration

Not a bad day. Tomorrow it’s back to Caen for the ferry home on the Ride magazine route. Looks promising on the map and French roads are yet to disappoint.

 

[tjmouse]

My lunchtime terminal disease fortunately was entirely temporary indtead and I’m back on steak and wine tonight.

The wine https://www.albert-bichot.com/en/moulin-a-vent-le-roc_29 was excellent.