Amanda and me to Paris or Bust

We're following The Seine into Paris, then the Avenue Vert back to Dieppe, up the coast ¹¹to Calais and to Gillingham via Dover and Canterbury. Meer informatie

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Amanda and me to Paris or Bust Reiziger
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Dag 14
maandag 8 september 2025 om 21:17
Hoogte: 249 ft
Engeland Midsomer Norton 51.289434, -2.48376551°17’22” N 2°29’2” W
It did indeed bust us
8 september, Engeland
It was Paris or Bust and indeed it did bust us both. A few days rest at George and Gill's enabled us to navigate to Gare du Nord via Notte Dame, and catch the train to Calais for an overnight stop, then early ferry to Dover, train to St Pancras, dash through the traffic to Paddington with 10 mins to spare, train to Bath and cycle home. Arriving pretty shattered and two weeks earlier than anticipated. Manda still pretty ill, both pretty exhausted, but home at least. Manda ordered lots of French food from Waitrose to make up for what we missed.

At Calais ferry terminal there was even a special lane for cars with a missing rear wheel. Had to take the photo!

So, trip is over; even though it wasn't as anticipated (I've never cried on a trip before) we will slowly regain strength and look forward to the next trip in Denmark/Sweden/Spain? Who knows.

Thanks for following us though there didn't seem to be much humour to find this time! As they say in Bonnie Scotland... it could ha been worse. But not much.Meer informatie
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ReizigerGlad you are home safely. Take time now to rest and recover.
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ReizigerOh deary me. You guys somehow rock being I'll. How and why. Amazing! Love the missing wheel that's brilliant
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Dag 9
woensdag 3 september 2025 om 10:48
☁️ 19 °C
Hoogte: 243 ft
Frankrijk Issy-les-Moulineaux 48.821946, 2.27450548°49’19” N 2°16’28” E
Paris and Rest
3 september, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Booked the train to Paris. Spoke exclusively in French to the agent who complimented me on my good accent. So glad we're not cycling to Paris.

Met by our dear and old friends George and Gill, whose lives are an extraordinary story of God's goodness. So happy to be with them.

This time it's Amanda's turn to visit the hospital and get antibiotics.

Visited Versailles and shared stories, spent time encouraging and praying for each other, making up for lost time. What a treasured time we had.

Bothe feeling much better now but it might be a while before we are really well!

Booked the train tickets to Calais and hope to be home by train and a little pedal power on Monday!Meer informatie
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ReizigerYou look better - is that an e-bike I see in the picture - not cheating I hope!!
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ReizigerThat's Gills bike! Electric bikes are very popular in France. All ages cycling away
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ReizigerHope you are both starting to recover.
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ReizigerWe are. Staying with good friends has been a tonic but cycling uphill on the way to central Paris today helped us both realise we are a long way from well yet!
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Dag 7
maandag 1 september 2025 om 19:37
☁️ 16 °C
Hoogte: 128 ft
Frankrijk Rouen 49.441269, 1.09765849°26’29” N 1°5’52” E
The battle begins
1 september, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Let's try the next hospital. Hospital receptionist escorts us to Urgent care reception 0800. Deserted. Staff kicking their heels and chatting. Forms filled in in double quick time, passport scanned. Triaged by 0815, including a 'Questions to ask patients in English' booklet. Can't see that happening in the NHS. Doctor changeover at 0830. 0845 doctor consultation. 0915 chest x-ray. 1000 blood tests and Covid test. 1200 we spot a porter pushing a patient on a trolley down the corridor stop to greet a colleague with a kiss on each chhek. Can't see that happening in the NHS either!1300 results are in.

And the final result is Covid 0; pneumonia 0; old bloke 0; tiny little microbe in hobnail boots doing a tap dance in my tubes 1. Result!

Lemon or strawberry flavoured antibiotic tablets is the next question. Très diffiçile is my response so I end up with one packet of each.

Beautiful Rouen.Meer informatie
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ReizigerHope the antibiotics start to work quickly. Do take care of yourself.
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ReizigerThanks Judith Antobiotics are fabulous and have really helped x
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Dag 7
maandag 1 september 2025 om 10:49
⛅ 17 °C
Hoogte: 102 ft
Frankrijk Rouen 49.442289, 1.11945549°26’32” N 1°7’10” E
Rouen and rest
1 september, Frankrijk ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Antibiotics kicked in and we did a bit of exploration. The open walkway at the top of the high clock tower was too much for Amanda who started to cough. OH NO! She's becoming ill. Some good food, beautiful sights and no more cycling. What a reliefMeer informatie
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Dag 6
zondag 31 augustus 2025 om 19:27
☁️ 20 °C
Hoogte: 128 ft
Frankrijk Rouen 49.441273, 1.09769649°26’29” N 1°5’52” E
L'hopital
31 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Navigator error added 10 miles to our 'shorts day ride.

Came across a St's day feast on the way with so.e handsome donkeys.

But we got to our apartment and were able to extend the stay for an extra night. Those 115 miles to Paris would not happen.

Early evening, slightly rested we walked the 3 kilometres to the recommended urgent care unit. Yes, we can treat you but you have to pay first and our payment system is broken! Incroyable I cried. We walked home too whacked to try the next.Meer informatie
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Dag 5
zaterdag 30 augustus 2025 om 19:09
☁️ 21 °C
Hoogte: 62 ft
Frankrijk Heurteauville 49.429748, 0.80018949°25’47” N 0°48’1” E
Decision time
30 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Here's what you suspected. The 30 or so miles to Jumieges just about killed us. Pretty flat, pretty exhausting, pretty little villages. Amanda going downhill, probably from dealing with me. We arrived at Jumieges, caught the ferry to our camp spot and just sat. I couldn't go on past Rouen, our closest railway link. We called it a day. Tearful, hugely disappointing. Never been defeated before.

We stayed in the most beautiful garden with the delightful Monique who took one look at me and said 'You need to go to hospital tomorrow.' Paracetamol reduced the fever overnight and we caught the ferry back across the river for a delish proper French meal.

In the morning we drparted, caught the ferry again and headed to RouenMeer informatie
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Dag 4
vrijdag 29 augustus 2025 om 20:45
☁️ 17 °C
Hoogte: 367 ft
Frankrijk Sainte-Marie-au-Bosc 49.666938, 0.20394749°40’1” N 0°12’14” E
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Abandon ship?
29 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
These things happen. A great breakfast at Veulette by the sea and the heading off into the hills. BUT THOSE HILLS WERE HORRIBLE. The wind was howling and the plateaus were featureless. About lunchtime I said 'you know what my love? I'd really like to be at home right now.' Next time you see her ask Amanda for her version! I was flat out busted and despairing. Never plumbed those depths before. Asked our church small group to pray and received a repatriation offer.

Reached Etretat (where Arsene Lupin comes from (not a Premier League star but the best thief in the world...read the books) and got details of routes home by rail and bus).

Got to an interesting camp ground and spent the night recuperating and repairing shattered dreams.

Abandon ship? Abandon the trip? Sounded like a great idea.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Is that Le Chish and Fips in the box . Hope you miss the storm as we think of you
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Reiziger No breakfast patisseries yum 😋
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Reiziger Bit wet overnight but in sheltered spot xx
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Dag 4
vrijdag 29 augustus 2025 om 09:17
🌧 15 °C
Hoogte: 358 ft
Frankrijk Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Taille 49.510714, 0.47742249°30’39” N 0°28’39” E
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Barry's been there before us
29 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Beautiful roads with barely a pothole in site. Tancraville, 3 miles from our campsite, spotted a bar with fab menu outside. Checked opening hours...food served all day...parked up....went in ....not serving food today. That seems so French. Nah, don't fancy it today.

Bite the bullet, cos that's all we had left to eat and head for the last hill to the campsite. TO FIND THAT BARRREEEEEEE HAS BEEN THERE BEFORE US. Not only has he closed our road but he has completely removed it. The hillside has gone and only the signs are left hovering 20m above the void. After 40 miles the only other way was via the prettiest little village with a monster hill at the end. I'm going to have words with Barrrreeee. He s got a lot to answer for.

Camping in Nicolas's garden, we were greeted with beer and sausage. Most welcome. We were his first guests.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Maybe we should offer this
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ReizigerOh Barree, don't dilly dally, on your way to Parree
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ReizigerAmusing xx
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Dag 4
vrijdag 29 augustus 2025 om 09:02
🌧 15 °C
Hoogte: 33 ft
Frankrijk Le Havre 49.462428, 0.16673749°27’45” N 0°10’0” E
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Proper French food
29 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Well, we made the decision to take each day one at a time, as the hills were mostly behind us. On to Le Havre, where the real food was rhubarb and strawberry crumble and strawberry pavlova. Deliçieuse.

Who knows what was in that concrete silo.Meer informatie
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Reiziger Looking lovely
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Reiziger Oh wow
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Dag 2
woensdag 27 augustus 2025 om 21:08
☁️ 19 °C
Hoogte: 135 ft
Frankrijk Veulettes-sur-Mer 49.85006, 0.59484849°51’0” N 0°35’41” E
Veulette
27 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
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Dag 2
woensdag 27 augustus 2025 om 20:18
☁️ 20 °C
Hoogte: 52 ft
Frankrijk Dieppe 49.926573, 1.06752449°55’36” N 1°4’3” E
Veulette sur Mer
27 augustus, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Well those Normandie hills haven't got any less since I was last here in 1968...Primary School Year 6 trip. The 32 miles to Veulette sur Mer took about 5 hours and the guy in charge was not happy. We gave a Gallic shrug of the shoulders, said d'accord numerous times and paid up. He capitulated. Our tent went up in his back garden, we kissed on each cheek at least 4 times and shared some raw garlic for dinner.

Incidentally we passed Phi and Sally's second home on the way.Meer informatie
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ReizigerNice chateau
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Dag 1
dinsdag 26 augustus 2025 om 17:00
☁️ 20 °C
Hoogte: 312 ft
Engeland Lewes 50.8079, -0.01100850°48’28” N 0°0’40” W
Stud Farm Campsite, Telscombe Cliffs
26 augustus, Engeland ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Beautiful sunrise and early start for the ferry. That ramp off the ferry looks a bit steep!

And 'don't throw foreign rubbish in the sea'. Does that mean only British rubbish is allowed?

Not convinced about The Albatross Coast ship name. Especially as we have An Ancient Mariner on board. Dieppe at 1500 then 32 miles to the campsite. Should be a breeze!Meer informatie
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ReizigerBienvenue en France !
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Dag 1
dinsdag 26 augustus 2025 om 12:06
⛅ 21 °C
Hoogte: 131 ft
Engeland South Oxfordshire 51.512673, -1.12876751°30’46” N 1°7’44” W
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And they're off
26 augustus, Engeland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
What could set you up better than a breakfast of porridge and runner beans? Maybe smoked salmon, scrambled egg and champagne like Sally and Phi have most mornings. Apparently that's what has maintained their youthful appearance over the years 🤔! Nice ride to Bath, train to Paddington with the cycle spaces designed for small road bikes.

2 missed train connections. Windy campsite. Early bed.Meer informatie
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ReizigerThe campsite looks lovely though! Well done on today. Hoping breakfast tomorrow is a nice one 😅
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ReizigerIt is a fab site though a bit windy. Reckon I slept for about 10 hrs....all aiding recovery
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Reiziger Beautiful view
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ReizigerIt's on the Downs overlooking Peacehaven. Very windy but peaceful
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maandag 25 augustus 2025 om 18:58
☀️ 22 °C
Hoogte: 184 ft
Engeland Patcham 50.853785, -0.1494150°51’14” N 0°8’58” W
Last minute preparation
25 augustus, Engeland ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
What does one do on the day before a huge journey?

Make a packing list, tweak the itinerary after realising that the route you planned on Giggle Maps was via Paris, Texas (see picture) - yes it really does have a cowboy hat on the top.

After years of overpacking we finally succumbed to Sally Kertzman's wise advice - only take 3 socks (you rotate them so each is worn a max of 2 days before being washed); cut off the handle of the toothbrush ( you can just chew the bristles); let the air out of the tyres (weight saving); leave your passport at home (they're overrated anyway and loads of people crossed the Channel without them over the last few years); only two pairs of pants (right way and inside out for each = 4 days wear). I even decided to leave my cuddly toy at home this time (weeping and gnashing of teeth sounds).

Off nice and early tomorrow, so keep an eye out on BBC News for the latest. Au revoir.Meer informatie
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vrijdag 22 augustus 2025 om 18:50
☀️ 39 °C
Hoogte: 249 ft
Engeland Midsomer Norton 51.289434, -2.48380251°17’22” N 2°29’2” W
All ready?
22 augustus, Engeland ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C
Why 'or bust' we hear you say. Because since I crashed nearly 4 weeks ago I have hardly ridden and am still feeling rather beaten up. Paris seems a long way away. BUT with my trusty steed repaired and raring to go who am I to refuse such an adventure?Meer informatie
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ReizigerGood luck Steve. Is Amanda going too?
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ReizigerAbsolutely. Just changed the trip title to make that clear!
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ReizigerGood luck, when do you depart? Must Diepe my self as my ancestors came from there!
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ReizigerThought your accent was a little odd
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Het begin van de reis
26 augustus 2025