Wheels over France: Adam & Carolyn's Bike Tour 2005

2005-06-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

Paris as viewed from Notre-Dame de Sacre-Couer in Montmartre.

Home.

2005-05-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

After a ridiculously long day of airplane travel yesterday (the 24th), we have returned from our cycling odyssey. I have put up a whack of new photos and will continue to do so for the next few days, so check back again. To all of our Vancouver friends, we will see you soon!

2005-05-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Avignon in the evening, from the campground.

2005-05-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

The incredible Fauvist blue of the Mediterranean sky. In El Port De La Selva.

2005-05-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Cadaques and the Mediterranean. About to start a fast descent. Olive tree farm in the foreground.

2005-05-25T19:29:00.001-07:00

Heading through a limestone tunnel near Hecho, Spain.

2005-05-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Approaching Jasa, Spain.

2005-05-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

A good vista near Banyuls-sur-mer in the French Mediterranean.

2005-05-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

In Cadaques with our new friends Pablo and Caroline. Pablo, an expert mechanic, had just tuned up all of our bikes by hand (including truing the wheels!)

2005-05-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

A windy 12 km descent in the Pireneos.

2005-05-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

Finding the way out of town.

2005-05-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

Carolyn and an amigo.

2005-05-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

The incrediblely scenic village of Anso in the Spanish Pirineos.

2005-05-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

In the Basque town of St.Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Avignon.

2005-05-21T00:24:00.000-07:00

After a day of hurricane force winds and rain that found us holed up in a campground on the Med in Spain, we made our triumphant return to France. A couple of days of great (but hot) cycling saw us in Narbonne. We decided to take a train to Avignon to drink in some of the Rhone region sites before taking the high-speed train to Paris tomorrow (the 22nd). We have separated forces with Dave and Jen and are in full relaxation mode now that the cycling is over; we will be able to swap stories with them when they pass through Vancouver on their way home to Whitehorse.
We will miss our idyllic French lifestyle. More photos to come when we find a better computer.

In Cadaques.

2005-05-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

Quick post. We're on the Mediterranean and about to reenter France. We plan to cycle north as far as we can and then take a train to Paris. Two days in Paris to drink in the sights, and home! Having a great time in Spain with Dave and Jen, drinking cava, the local speciality, a sparkling white wine.

In Spain, the dream team.

2005-05-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

Hola! We made it to meet Jen and Dave in the Spanish Pyrenees. The last few days of mountains have been great and tiring. We are currently in Jaca and contemplating a train ride to the Mediterranean coast for a few days of relaxed cycling and sun. We have travelled over 1200 km!

2005-05-12T03:46:00.000-07:00

The dream team in the Spanish Pirineos.

2005-05-12T03:35:00.000-07:00

Loading the baguette for a long stretch.

2005-05-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

Climbing in the Pyrenees. In Spain.

In the Basque region, the Pyrenees in the distance.

2005-05-07T03:55:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been intense but wonderful. Yesterday saw us cycling 120 km, through Armagnac country (the centre for the brandy that is fermented once, unlike Cognac, which is fermented twice). We also passed through the Bordeaux wine growing region, and we have been enjoying the Haut-Médoc wine. We are in sight of the Pyrenees and the views are becoming ever more expansive. This is Basque country; the architecture in the little towns is looking much more Spanish. We passed our first town with an active bullfighting arena today (St. Clicq). Our cycle computer says that we are close to having cycled 1000 kilometres on our journey so far.
We meet Dave and Jen on the 10th in Burguete, Spain (a favourite town of Hemingway's). Love to all.

In Perigord verte.

2005-05-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been very hilly, through lots of forest and farmland. We are in the heart of prehistory in Perigord; the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux and Eyzies-de-Tayac are in this region. Yesterday, we stopped at a 2nd century Gallo-Roman archaeological dig at Chassenon. We are making good time on our velos and beginning to feel like Lance Armstrong. The weather continues to be very hot and clear.
We are now in the town of Brantome, the 'Venice' of the Perigord.

2005-05-03T03:17:00.000-07:00

Brantome.

2005-05-03T03:14:00.000-07:00

The magnificient chateau at Chauvigny.

2005-05-03T03:07:00.000-07:00

Inside the medieval chateau at Rochecouart.

2005-05-03T03:06:00.000-07:00

Carolyn and the hay bails of the Vienne.

2005-05-03T03:04:00.000-07:00

The chateau at Chauvigny at night.

2005-05-03T03:03:00.000-07:00

Our first flat tire.

Leaving the Loire.

2005-04-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

We had our last wonderful day sur la Loire today, travelling from Chinon to Loudon via the Abbaye a Fontevreau. The abbey is an incredible 12 century abbey, the largest in France. The chateau at Chinon was significant in the life of Joan of Arc; the bars and tabac are named in her honour.
It is ridiculously hot; 25 degrees. We are now headed south for the Bordeaux region. The wines have been great; last night's Chinon white was very good. A bientot.

Tours

2005-04-27T05:35:00.000-07:00

We are in Tours, on the Loire river (the last wild river in France). Today we have travelled from Amboise and are headed to Azay-sur-Rideau, through Villandry. The chateau at Villandry is renowned for its acres and acres of gardens (the food gardens alone are a length of 52 km!) The road from Amboise was a bit busier than we are used to but we have a quieter route to Azay. We are in a major wine region - the local vintages are Loire, Vivray, and Touraine. It is hot again; the rain that we had yesterday has stopped. The chateau here (a Tours) has a free exhibition of draings by Fellini. The temperature is high and sunburns on the ears are hard to avoid sur les velos.
We continue to see marvellous chateau along the route and many cave-houses built into the limestone - les grottes - many built into the cliffs after the limestone was removed to build the chateau.

2005-04-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

Notre amis dans Orchaise, Aurelie et Ludovic. Ils sont tres gentil.

Lunch a la Francaise.

2005-04-26T03:35:00.000-07:00

A typical lunch of cheese, baguette, et nutella. In Morée.

2005-04-26T03:29:00.000-07:00

The chateau at Dampierre.

2005-04-26T03:26:00.000-07:00

Today, at Blois.

Chartres.

2005-04-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

Vive la France!

Bonjours mes copains!

2005-04-26T02:11:00.000-07:00

Salut! We are sorry that it took so long to get a post up, mais life kept interfering whenever we tried to find computer!
France is incredible! We are in Blois right now; beside the river Loire. The cycling has been great in the last couple of days. The French drive very quickly and the roads are thin, but we have been travelling on quiet little country roads and loving it. Cycling is a great way to see the vraiment France; we have seen many beautiful churches and chateux, many dating from the 11th century! The little villages are precious; just a bakery, a butcher, and everything closes in the afternoon for a siesta!
Last night we stayed with a very nice couple in their house in Orchaise. Her (Aurelie) family had lived and farmed there since 1749. They gave us a pate that his (Ludovic) father had made from rabbits that he hunted. We talked politics, drank local wine and anise liquer, and enjoyed a true French dinner with a cheese course for dessert.
Our behinds are a little sore but are getting used to the punishment and we are feeling strong on our bikes. We have had some headwinds but have still been able to make our desired distances each day.
Every little town is so interesting and full of history; not much has changed here (in the country) in hundreds of years.
Today we will check out the incredible chateau and old town of Blois and head towards Amboise. Au revoir!

2005-04-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Working it.

Last days in Vancouver.

2005-04-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Lots to do. Only four days before we leave! We've boxed the bikes, changed the money, photocopied the passports. Our itinerary: to Copenhagen via Seattle on the 18th, two days in Copenhagen, then to Paris on the 21st. We will probably take in some Parisian sights and then begin our cycling from Versailles. From Versailles we will trace the Loire Valley, and then head south to the Spanish border, where we will meet our friends Dave and Jen (from Whitehorse) and continue eastward through the Pyrenees.