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Cycling 2024 York to the Alps
  • Paul Docherty
May – Jul 2024

Cycling 2024 York to the Alps

A bicycle tour from York, UK. We plan to start with a week touring some of the IJsselmeer in the Netherlands. After that, south to pick up some of the EuroVelo-19 route south before heading South East to the Alps. Camping and hotels, some rest days. Read more
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  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Annecy (Rest Day)

    June 10, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Annecy is so beautiful and today the grey cloud and fog eventually lifted that we could see it properly. The high humidity has gone for the moment, I guess until the next thundery period in the cycle builds up.

    We wandered around Annecy, which has lots of animators in town for the animation festival. Some students from Edge Hill university on an Animation programme are staying in our hotel/conference centre.

    Looking at the weather and trying to predict potential weather over the col coming up, we bought a bit of extra kit just in case.    Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Annecy - Beaufort (Savoie)

    June 11, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Up and away fairly early from where we where staying in Annecy straight into town to the cycle path along the lake. Packed with cyclists - tourists, commuters, kids, roadies, potterers… great to see. Cycling along the length of the lake with its mountain backdrop in the early morning is s real treat. As the lake ends, the track carries on a gentle sustained descent to Albertville. Bittersweet for us, of course, knowing that we turn left at Albertville to start the clîmb to regain every metre of elevation lost!

    The climb up to Beaufort was beautiful as expected, but broken into separate climbs with respite plateaus. So it felt okay, though at a fairly steady pace loaded up, passed by roadies all the way. The town is quiet; still a bit pre-season.

    Yet another lovely meal - eating out in France has been a pleasure. You do have to fuel the ride!

    The weather looking good for the Col du Pré followed by the Cormet de Roselend tomorrow.    Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Beaufort (Savoie) - Bourg St Maurice

    June 12, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We’ve been glued to the weather apps hoping that today would be good for crossing the Cormet de Roselend. It turned out well and so the climb commenced right from Beaufort.

    There’s only one way to tackle a big climb on a loaded tourer - slowly. So we just got our heads down and ground uphill. The air got cooler, the scenery amazing and we made it to the only big of respite for a brief stop to eat our boulangerie Quiches. 15mins was enough as it was cool, so we soon pushed on the the top.

    After quick photos taken by other cyclists, we started the descent. Great care is needed with tourers loaded only with rear panniers as they can shimmy on fast descents, so we took it easy. But 20k downhill… what’s not to like? Cold of course, but we added layers.

    We rolled into Bourg St Maurice, our destination, and straight into our favourite bistro/bar for lunch.

    Our grand tour is done. It was epic and challenging at times. It’s been on our ‘ToDo’ list a long time, so an absolutely amazing feeling.

    We’ll have a breather now, but this will continue on 27th June as we log our return trip by train (doubtless more challenges to come!). Thanks to you for following and the various messages you sent us.

    1931k    Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Bourg Saint Maurice

    Jun 12–26, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    A couple of weeks recovering in Bourg Saint Maurice! The weather settled and we got more blue sky days after Alpine storms. So, recovered, replenished, fed, watered, fettled. Tomorrow the trek back home begins by train. It should be interesting with the bikes…Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Bourg St Maurice - Basel (Train)

    June 27, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Well 4/8 trains done without too much hassle; in fact quite relaxing overall. Lovely views out of the train windows in France and Switzerland. Arriving in Basel on a balmy hot evening, we checked into the Youth Hostel just ahead of 140 (!) cyclists from Rhineland universities. We spend dinner chatting to two of them about cycling and the upcoming Tour de France.

    After dinner we strolled along the Rhine and yep, it’s true, they swim in the huge fast-flowing river while industrial barges go past. Another place to revisit and stay a bit.    Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Basel, CH - Venlo, NL (train)

    June 28, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Bikes on trains! Never easy and it can be a right handful at times. We made it back into the Netherlands and the border town of Venlo.
    Chatting last night to the German cyclists, they warned us about Deutsche Bahn (our next train was German) - how a once super-efficient service had declined dramatically. I’d also heard this from other sources, but we had great trips on DB last year and anyway, come on this is Germany!…

    Well. Arriving at Basel station for our train to Düsseldorf, it started with ‘undefined delay’ and then the train starting in Zurich never left. A technical problem. I got a ‘Trip Not Possible’ text and then it was cancelled. Really busy trains and compulsory bike reservations all full, we thought we were doomed until I remembered that I’d changed plans from a later route via Cologne and those reservations were non-cancellable - we still had them. Those reservations and amazing flexibility of Interrail, we were on!

    Arriving at Cologne main station pretty much at rush hour on a Friday is probably not an experience I’d rush to repeat with loaded bikes! It was hard to move on the platforms and the trains were very crowded. We eventually squeezed onto the local trains, had another couple of memorable chats with locals (yes, we must visit Münster!).

    As the train pulled into Venlo; we had that ‘back in the NL’ feeling - great to be back in the most cycling friendly country in the world!

    It’s not done yet… last day on the trains tomorrow.    Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Venlo - Rotterdam (Train)

    June 29, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    The last train of the trip back took us all the way to Rotterdam having started in Venlo. It stopped at several major cities (Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Leiden, The Hague). Arriving at Rotterdam Central Station, it was obviously busy. Having the loaded bikes, we decided it was better to get out west of the city where we are spending the night. A day in hand but we prefer it that way. It’s good seeing the suburbs and satellite towns as well as city centres.

    We sorted a light lunch from a supermarket while doing a bit of washing in a launderette. After checking in to our Campanile, we took the metro to Delfshaven for some food overlooking the harbour.

    A hot humid day, like so much of this tour.    Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Rotterdam Vlaardingen - Europoort

    June 30, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    A relaxed ride from Rotterdam out to Europoort. Time in hand in case of any last minute mechanicals so we arrived early, spending a bit of time adding a bit of air into all the tubes. There seemed to be a bigger number of cyclists queuing up at the port and we had some good chats with a few; also with some (motor) bikers and motorhomers! Cycle touring looks alive and well and everyone really positive about the amazing NL infrastructure (and hospitality).Read more

  • Paul DochertyCycling 2024 York to the AlpsTraveler

    Hull - York

    July 1, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We got off the ferry quite quickly and were on our way early, onto the cycle routes through Hull and out towards Beverley. After being on the continent it’s a shock to use UK cycle paths - but after an hour or so you adjust back.

    We were soon in Beverley riding past the Minster and out towards the Wolds on nice lanes with occasional elevated views. The traffic was light. Very light in fact in Stamford Bridge as the bridge was closed for repairs - so it was free of traffic. Almost pandemic-like, we took the opportunity to ride along the A166 a bit before turning off.

    What a feeling at the end of a long tour rolling closer to home. Sad at the end of an adventure, but always good to be home. Time to plan the next tour…    Read more

    Trip end
    July 1, 2024
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