The rendevouz
4. heinäkuuta 2011, Englanti ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Today we get together for our next big tour; a ride from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean, timed to co-inside with the Tour de France. The big ride is book-ended by a cruise-ferry voyage and aLue lisää
Bye bye London
5. heinäkuuta 2011, Englanti ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
Today was a day of working in London, followed by meeting up with our Friend Becky who is leaving for a several year long posting to Australia.
Princi on Wardour Street in London, does brilliant cakeLue lisää
Day 0: Le Prologue
7. heinäkuuta 2011, Englanti ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Today we set out from Epsom to Portsmouth, from where we embark properly on our journey.
...its fair to say it hasn't gone well. One of our number developed a problem with knees. Of the 65 miles fromLue lisää
Portsmouth and le départ
8. heinäkuuta 2011, Englanti ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
It seems Chris's knees developed a problem due to the weight of his touring bike, so retiring was the right thing to do. He may join me later in the journey by plane.
When we tried to work out whatLue lisää
The Voyage'
8.–9. heinäk. 2011, Celtic Sea ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Shortly after I bid Chris so-long at the International Ferry port I joined the ship. Having staggered up to my cabin (Deck 8, starboard side towards the bows) with all of my touring gear, save theLue lisää
Bilbao
9. heinäkuuta 2011, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Once I disembarked from the ship, things got rather more sketchy. Navigating out of Bilbao was difficult to say the least (my electronic mapping pulling the old trick of showing non-existent roads). ILue lisää
The Biscay Coast
10. heinäkuuta 2011, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
About 2 in the morning it started to rain a nasty drizzle. I packed away my sleeping bag, as being down-style its ability to insulate is seriously compromised by getting wet. I pulled out my tarpaulinLue lisää
Camping Oliden
11. heinäkuuta 2011, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
After the first part of my ride was so unexpectedly challenging, I slept in until nearly 10:00, and didn't break camp until 11:00. I woke to my first sight of blue skies since the English channel.Lue lisää
Saint-Jean-De-Luz, Welcome to France.
11. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
So far today I rode up the coast calling at Irun, crossing the Franco-Spanish border at Urrugne, Saint-Jean-De-Luz.
The Franco-Spanish border; I was quite disappointed that there was so littleLue lisää
Biarritz
11. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Biarritz is last point where I will touch the Bay-of-Biscay's shore, so is the start of the coast-to-coast challenge portion of my ride.
The locals have been quite interested in my journey, and I'veLue lisää
Camping Bertranborde
11. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
I finished my first day in France at a pleasant, though misleadingly signposted camp site, where I met a nice English couple who were motor cycle touring through Europe. We had actually leftLue lisää
In this country they drive on the...
12. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
When cycling in France it is important to remember the immortal advice of Sir Michael Cane; that 'in this country,they drive on the wrong side of the road'. I've had about three brief lapses in whichLue lisää
Chapelle Notre-Dame at Bétharram
12. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
The most striking building, and the only thing that pursuaded me to get my camera out in the inclement weather was the Chapelle Notre-Dame. I made camp about an hours further ride, beyond BétharramLue lisää
Lourdes
13. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ 🌫 18 °C
Shortly after I pitched my tent last night an almighty thunders storm rolled in. The rain pounded noisily against the fabric of the tent, but fortunately this irritating sound was largely drowned outLue lisää
Slugs, why did it have to be slugs...
13. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
The weather continued to be attrociously stormy as I approached the begining of one of the most iconic climbs in cycling. I was offered accommodation on several occasions, so I must have looked quiteLue lisää
La Tormalet
14. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
When I woke I immediately realized that not making my self eat, before bed had been fool-hardy. I felt fairly rubbish. After tucking into the plentiful supply of food that I had hauled up the mountainLue lisää
Camping L'Oree des Monts
14. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Unlike previous Tour de France missions, the need to stop and pack my tent after the race meant I got caught in the considerable traffic coming off the mountain. Descending over a vertical Km causedLue lisää
Col de aspin
15. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
I spent the morning getting my self cleaned up and sorted out, then headed out in the early afternoon aiming for a good spot on the stage 14 route. The weather had actually become reasonable, with aLue lisää
Voyage dans la Pyrenees
15. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
After descending Col de Aspin, I made for St-Gaudens, start point for the next day's stage. I followed the D929 north out of the pyreneese, until it intercepts D817. The route is lined with smallLue lisää
Montréjeau
15. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
After the mountains were left behind I picked up the D817 to head east towards. I stopped at Montréjeau to capture a panorama, looking back toward the mountains and to admire the striking clocktowerLue lisää
St-Gaudens
15. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
I made decent time, and arrived at St-Gaudens by 19:00, despite having to stop to attempt to make repairs to my continually puncturing front tyre.
Shortly after St-Gaudens a van, driven by someLue lisää
Col de Portet d'Aspet
15. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
I aimed for the Col-de-port-du-Aspet. A mere Cat 2 Col, and but a speed bump compared with the Tormalet at a just 1,100m tall. Even so, though it is a relatively short climb, it has a 9.7% averageLue lisää
Le Tour de France - Stage 14
16. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
The morning was spent jockeying for position on the Col, so I didn't have time to prepare the customary mountain top Welsh cakes. Instead I ate up the remainder of my bread and cheese.
The SwissLue lisää
Saint-Lary
16. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
Descending the Col to I traveled through some very picturesque villages. Saint-Lary in particular looked glorious in the sunlight.
Saint-Girons
16. heinäkuuta 2011, Ranska ⋅ 🌧 25 °C
After descending the Col-de-port-du-Aspet, I had a fairly hard slog through the undulating foot hills of the Pyrenees on my way to Foix. The going was tough, and I took a break in a cafe' to watch theLue lisää






















































































