Reset search
Euro Bike TourEuro Bike Tour
SatelliteEdit route

Euro Bike Tour

April - June 2016
A 71-day adventure by Pedalling Pipey Read more
+1
  • 75footprints
  • 9countries
  • 71days
  • 385photos
  • 0videos
  • 2.4kmiles
Follow Calendar Share Bucket list
Date ascending
  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 8

    Day 8 - Nantes

    April 23, 2016 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    First day off the bike so after nice little lie in it was time for a wander round Nantes. Nice city with an impressive Chateau and large cathedral (which is stunning inside and well worth a visit). The centre was very busy and me and the German started on the beers fairly early including the nest bar at the top of Nantes tallest building. The real bonus came when we discovered the annual night carnival was to be in Nantes tonight. After giving the German a lesson in darts (couldn't help but point out the 4-2 scoreline which he didn't find amusing!) we headed to the carnival to find the whole city had turned out and my plans for an early night before tomorrow's ride were quickly dashed.Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 9

    Day 9 - Nantes to Pornic, 52 miles

    April 24, 2016 in France ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    After last night's festivities it was a bit of a slow start with plenty of coffee with breakfast. It was also time to say goodbye to the German as he carried on his 6 month adventure by heading North. Today's ride took me along the last stretch of the Loire a Velo before it joined the Atlantic Highway EuroVelo 1 route that actually runs from Norway to Portugal (maybe next year's trip!). After leaving Nantes and crossing the Loire via the ferry at Coueron it was a flat ride to the Atlantic at Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins. It might have been flat but my nemesis 'the head wind' was back and an open 12 mile dead straight stretch along a canal became pretty boring pretty quick.

    After eventually reaching the coast after what seemed like a whole day riding but in reality was only a couple of hours it was time to head south to Pornic following the Atlantic Highway cycle route that would meanander from beach town to beach town through pine forests and camp sites. Have to admit was good to get to the coast and mix the riding up.

    After a good days ride even with the hangover and headwind I arrived into Pornic for the evening which is a stunning little harbour town with a real French riveria feel to it with expensive houses and a small marina.

    The day however wasn't without its problems and a nasty little niggle in my knee got worse as the day went on and despite feeling good and wanting to ride all day every day I may need to listen to my body on this one and take a day or two off the bike especially with 9 weeks still to go. Very frustrating.

    With ice on the knee and a belly full of pizza and a very nice rose wine (I know!) it was time for bed.    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 10

    Day 10 - Pornic to La Rochelle (train)

    April 25, 2016 in France ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Made the tough decision this morning to not ride for a few days because of the issues I've had with my knee. Very frustrating as can still ride but know I'm making it worse and with over 8 weeks still left I know it's the sensible thing to do even if it is very frustrating.

    As a result and with it being a grey day I had a few chilled hours around the harbour of Pornic before jumping on the very quiet evening train to La Rochelle, a place I remember very vaguely from a family holiday years ago as a kid, to arrive after sunset and have a quick stroll round the harbour at night.

    Only real eventful thing to happen today was despite only riding 500 meters to the station from the harbour I did get my first wolf whistle. It was sadly off the French equivalant of a white van man but hey at 36 I'll take it!    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 11

    Day 11 - La Rochelle

    April 26, 2016 in France ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    With no riding today it was time to see what La Rochelle had to offer. With the weather still being grey and cold with the locals still wearing big coats and scarfs it was time to find some indoor activities and the aquarium and the three harbour towers would do just that. All well worth a visit if you're ever in La Rochelle. It was then time to head to head to one of the harbour side bars for a couple of chilled beers and people watching. After being befriended by a couple of the locals and a few hours chatting about the upcoming Euros, the Premier League (they love Leicester and Vardy over here) and surprisingly the mighty Wolves it was time to settle down and watch the champs league semi final between City and Real. Wow what I shite game!

    Feeling pretty merry it was time to bed after a quick HCB stop on the way back!

    (woke today to much better weather so photos of La Rochelle are from this morning before getting the train to Bordeaux. Gutting as perfect biking weather but I know I need to rest the knee for a couple more days.)    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 12

    Day 12 - La Rochelle-Bordeaux-Biarritz

    April 27, 2016 in France ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Following the decision to have a few days off the bike I thought I'd get south quick then spend a few days riding back up the coast before heading into the Pyrenees next week.

    After leaving La Rochelle in perfect riding weather (gutting) I jumped on the train for a few hours in Bordeaux before heading to Biarritz.

    Pleased I stopped in Bordeaux and may well come back to spend a vew days riding round the vineyards but didn't need much more than a couple of hours riding round the city. Nice place but would recommend only a day there.

    Onto Biarritz and arrived late afternoon and first impressions are I'm going to like this place. Great coastal town with stunning beaches and rocky coastline. The town itself is a real mix French style (the money kind) and cool surfers so I'm fitting right in!

    Will explore more tomorrow.

    (photos are of Bordeaux)    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    1
    Day 13

    Day 13 - Biarritz

    April 28, 2016 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    The sun was out so it was up early to have breakfast on the beach and a wander around. Still pretty chilly with the winds from the north but in true English style it was time for a t-shirt and flip flops even if the locals were still wearing their coats!

    After a wander around town and the beaches I found a great little bar called Eden Rock Bar (which is a must if you ever go to Biarritz) as you can imagine it's perched on a rock face over looking the beach and sea. With it being unseasonably cold and still low/mid season the bar was quiet so spent a couple of hours chatting to the barman getting the lowdown on Biarritz. Rest of the day was pretty chilled but may well return on Sunday to have a surf.

    With great beaches, cool surf bars, posh restaurants and all your high end shops Biarritz is great for a long weekend. Place would be buzzing in high season.    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 14

    Day 14 - Biarritz to San Sebastian

    April 29, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    There is only just over 30 miles between Biarritz and San Sebastian but the first thing that strikes you is the difference in culture especially the bars, restaurant's and biggest of all the food.

    It couldn't be easier getting between the two on train. Simply get the train to Hendaye at the end of the line in France then walk 200 yards to the next platform which is Irun in Spain (these will hopefully be the last trains for a while).

    After arriving in San Sebastian to great weather it was time to have a bike around. There are two main beaches and a great old town which is car free and where all your pintxos (think tapas but don't say that here) bars are. More than 200 of them. More on the pintxos bars and trying to work out how they work tomorrow.

    A must is a walk upto the Castillo de La Mota which you can see where ever you are in San Sebastian. It offers amazing views of the city and on the way back dowm on the West side is a hidden bar which will offer you some of the best views and music you will find anywhere to have a beer.    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 15

    Day 15 - San Sebastian

    April 30, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    What a difference a day makes. Cold, wet and very windy. Only good thing was the strong winds meant the heavy showers came and left pretty quick.

    I'd managed to pick up a ticket to watch Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid a couple of days ago so luckily the weather didn't have too much of an impact on the day. After a chilled morning I headed over to the ground for a few pre game beers and see what was going on.

    Not your biggest of clubs Real Sociedad. Atmosphere around the ground reminded me of a Fulham game, a family club with everyone just having a good day out. The real stars were Real Madrid (no Ronaldo sadly) who are pushing fir the title and an average game was saved for Madrid by a Bale winner in the 80th minute. Fair play to the 100 or so Sociedad 'ultras' who didn't stop singing for the entire mate and the old fella next to me who spoke to me in Spanish the whole match. No idea what he said but a lot knodding and shouting at the ref when he did seemed to do the trick.

    After the match it was time to head back to the old town to spend an website in the pintxos bars and try and work out how to order the food. Each bar varies slightly which doesn't help but basically you grab a plate help yourself to what's on the bar, order a few hot things (black squid ink risotto in one of the bars was amazing) and the barmen some how at the end seem to know exactly what you've had and everyone else. No idea how they do it but very impressive. Great atmosphere in all the bars with the locals not coming out for food until about 9/10pm the places are still buzzing with people eating and drinking well gone midnight.

    Great weekend in San Sebastian will definitely be back. Back on the bike tomorrow and can't wait.    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 16

    Day 16-San Sebastian-Biarritz, 35 miles

    May 1, 2016 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Feels great to be back on the bike and what a ride! 35 miles along a rocky coastline, two countries, countless beaches and seaside towns, a fair few climbs and some great descents.

    The reverse of the train journey I did a couple of days ago and glad I did it. Best ride so far. Took it easy to watch the knee and could have some without a couple of the climbs but touch wood if I manage it is hopefully going to be ok.

    Some really great towns between San Sebastian and Biarritz including Hendaye on the French/Spanish border, Cibour where a French equivalant of Tough Murder was taking place and already thinking about entering next year as looked a damn site better than a muddy field in Buckinghamshire and Saint-Jean-de-Luz where you could easily pass an afternoon sitting outside one of the harbour restaurants.

    After a great ride it was time to relax in Biarritz for one last time before heading inland to the Pyrenees and across to the Med.    Read more

  • Pedalling PipeyEuro Bike Tour
    Day 17

    Day 17 - Biarritz to Lourdes, 36 miles

    May 2, 2016 in France ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Time to leave the coast behind and head in land and to the Pyrenees. Following the advice of a fellow cyclist the day started with a nice 10 mile ride along the coast to Bayonne where I caught the train to Pau. Nice place Pau and ex host of the French GP on its Street circuit and still host to Formula 3 which they were setting up for in a couple of weeks so second race track I've now riden round.

    After leaving Pau it was 26 miles of a steady incline to Lourdes at the foothills of the Pyrenees. As the Pyrenees started to come into view it reminded me a lot, for people who have done it, of when after about 40 miles cycling from London to Brighton Ditchling Beacon appears on the horizon and you think sh@t I've got to climb that.

    Arriving into Lourdes a place if I am honest I knew little about apart from it was an important place for Catholic pilgrimage but with 6 million visitors a year this place is popular! A bizarre place which apart from the church and old fort is very tacky with every shop being nic nac stores selling Virgin Marys. However the evening service which is attended by several hundred people all carrying candels is something to be witnessed and very moving.

    After saying a few words for a friend of the family my own thoughts couldn't help but turn to my very good friend Brian who was Catholic and my dad who are both sadly not with us. Brian and my dad were both huge Leicester fans so being where I was and the thoughts that were going through my head it couldn't have been more apt that due to Spurs drawing Leicester completed the miracle and won the Premier League. I know two people who will be having a party tonight!    Read more

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English