Cyclist spotting

An early 06:00 start to walk from my hotel to the ferry book in by 07:00.  I soon spot a number of 
cycle helmets dangling on rucksacks. A sure sign of Channel to Med riders. They are a friendly lot, but all can claim to have done one, or many  such adventures in the past, so I'm definitely a newbie.
Lots of bike talk ensues as we cross the channel to Ouistreham. A very calm crossing with a chance of some late breakfast, a doze, some chat and read of my chosen book for the holiday.
Numerous WhatsApp messages pinging around sorting bag pick-ups and pre ride meetings. Sunny in Ouistreham!
Le ping pong! 
A view of the not to distant ferry port

So far I've seen two games of petonque but have yet to spot a Gallic shrug! 

Went for a wander down Sword beach.
There are really well done memorials to the D day landings. Each tree has the name of a soldier attached to a post. 

I shall have to find out how to rotate these! 

Comments

  1. Mike Hewett16 May 2026 at 03:47

    We're looking forward to following from afar

    ReplyDelete
  2. Judi17 May 2026 at 01:34

    Enjoying following your journey from the comfort of my sofa 😁

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An old git on a bike

Image
The Channel to Med adventure I'm not quite sure how this is going to work! I'm not that used to doing this sort of thing on a mobile phone, so I'll see how frustrated I get. Anyhow, here is the start,  The bike A 531 framed bike that was rescued on its way to the scrap heap. As a Covid project I stripped it down, resprayed it a brilliant pink and cleaned, regreased and reassembled. Unfortunately the spray paint did little to keep the rust at bay, so I had the frame sand blasted and powder coated in post box red after two years use.  I rode this bike for several thousand miles with a 52:42 front chainring and 14:28 rear block. While this gear set up is fine for the hills of Northamptonshire, they would not help much on longer and steeper climbs. I joined the Olde Victoria Cycling club in 2023 and soon heard of Bob Mitchell, a cycle mechanic par excellence. Some in depth chats followed. Bob the wielded his magic spanners and transformed the bike into one that should be able t...
Read more

Day 11.Ventoux

Image
A start in the cool and shade of the morning. An 8 mile ride to the start of the climb, stopping at Malaucene to buy a souvenir cycle top. I can't back down now! Start the ride in the company of the Canadians, but eventually strike out alone. The climb is bit of a slog. Some steep straight sections in the heat of the sun. Fortunately Isabelle and Rob provide some welcome shady waystations where I could cool down and refuel. Much of the road is bordered by trees, so there is nothing much on the way of scenery until you reach the last section. The lol support van heading to the summit.  The final hairpins  A roadside photographer took this action shot!  The obligatory cold summit shot!  The gradient map  The way down  A bleak landscape.  Tour de France graffiti  Back in the vegetation Cooling down with a beer!  ...
Read more

Day 14. To the sea!

Image
The overnight thunder and rain made for a cool, but dry start. A pleasant climb out of the valley to the col.  Obligatory col Pic. We all wore out Peak Tours, Channel to Med cycle tops. It was very much like cycling with a team!  Another smaller col followed on from this, but it was not significant enouugh to have it's own sign. Brew stop! The remainder of the ride was mainly down hill following the Le Loup River. Initially the road narr and passed through tunnels cut through the limestone edge of gorge. An Al fresco meal of pasta and a variety of veg at a roadside restaurant filled us up for the last section. Too big a portion for me to handle! More stunning views And then Cagnes sue Mer. Our first really busy encounter with civilization since Ouistreham! Not all that pleasant but it brought us to the sea! The end of the ride! Time for a swim in the sea and a celebratory cup of champagne! Then...
Read more