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Struggling to post pics
There is a really loud disco somewhere nearby. Its rubbish music and i cant find a way in🙄🤣
I’ve since come to the conclusion that cycle touring does not have to be a suffer-fest, and that one person’s idea of comfort and what they are happy to carry is widely different to any others.
Alternatively "any fool can be uncomfortable in a field" (learned while a reserve FOP gunner in the 80's).
And camping without beer is just sitting in a field
Balls to it, why the chuff is it so difficult to post photos 🙄
You'll all have to imagine a whole pile of panniers for a 3 night trip to my sister's. It's less than an hour by car🤣
Out of interest, what do you do about bike security when you need to get shopping/go to a bar/get a shower etc etc
You carrying a big lock or just hopeful there's no tee-leaves around??
And how bike friendly are the campsites? i.e. is there any "no turn-around" policy for bikers or hikers? Are you mostly on private or public campsites?
I have a padlock and cable that will stop an opportunist theif. I dont leave the bike in cities at all.
Campsites a mix. Several times they have squeezed me in a full site but tonight i tried 3 before getting a pitch. Campsites are les busy away from the coast
Campsites are fairly secure
Must be some big celebration going on. They just reenacted WW2 with fireworks
It's so annoying camping next to a big event and not being apart of it! We were camping near the Hague at May half-term, there was a big end of the season hockey match going on, I think it was a title decider. We got the atmosphere from a couple of Kms away! If we'd have known earlier we'd have seen about getting tickets. I've never been to a game of hockey in my life, but it sounded like a good evening out!
Markgrylish
I also tonight have the bike precariously balanced and tied to my tent
I'll repeat my prediction campsites will have places from tomorrow night, it's back to school on Monday.
Tomorrow you'll be going past some places that are worth more time if you want to do the tourist thing. There are Île de Ré with its network of cycle paths, Île d'Aix by boat and Île d'Olèron if you fancy a sea food restaurant. In terms of history all that water out there was the scene of several naval battles between the British and French up to the Napoleonic period. The main west coast naval arsenal was in Rochefort and there are many fortifications to see including Fort Bayard which you'll recognise form TV series.
The next day south you have Royan which was bombed by the Brits and Yanks in WWII, a shambles that bordered on a war crime. The town was completely leveled and rebuilt in 50s concrete. I love the architecture. The little dedicated museum in town and the cathedral are well worth a visit. Clairefontaine campsite in Pontaillac is one of the ones I used to work on with a nice swimming beach nearby. You can cut the corner to get there but going along the cycle route along the Côte Sauvage and past le Phare de la Coubre (you can go up it for a panoramic view for a few euros) is worth the extra effort.
Then there's the BAC over to the Médoc.
Todays earworm. Ffs
I'm safe, I didn't click. 🙂 I almost forgot the market in Royan, one of the best places in France to go shopping for fresh sea food, fruit and veg. Oh and the boulangerie that does pain au chocolat aux amendes between the market and the sea front on the right, we used to knock on the back door on the way back from the night club when they came out of the oven. If you hadn't already guessed, I'll admit Royan is one of my favorite places to spend a short holiday break.
Camped up early. Couldn't resist the " refugio cyclo".
Im the only person here so far anyway. It has a rustic charm shall we say. Need to go to the shops for supplies
Not many miles on the map today
I pitched up in a few parks, edges of roundabouts, tennis courts, under concrete table tennis tables, beaches and next to circus's when I couldn't find a site. Was in Italy Austria and Germany tho when these issues cropped up. Didn't have a decent wash for a week either 😭😂. France was great for sites.
Cruel, that's what it is, just cruel. Pictures like that should be banned.
Royan is one of my favorite places to spend a short holiday break.
I concur. I spent many family holidays as a kid at Nauzan Plage campsite.
No beating a good French tart!
Glad to see the cuisine is to your liking. That breakfast shot a couple of days ago couldn't be more French holiday.
Thanks for keeping us updated. Encore un croissant all the way.
You sir are a tarte (sans citron)!
Encore un croissant all the way.
I always order two as it saves having to remember if it's un or une croissant
if you're going south, get the ferry and then Pin Sec and Hourtin have good and cheap campsites and you're very near to all that lovely Medoc wine. Did once come across a boar cycling through those pines but it was a rare event and we both darted for it (in opposite directions).
Pictures like that should be banned.
Too true - I swear the lawn is getting worse!
Tonight the village party was on and there was another bike tourer turned up who spoke english so a couple of beets were had while we watched the fireworks. All slightly surreal especially wandering thru the village trying to locate the party by sound.
I didn’t think you you liked beetroot 😈
Camped up cold beer in hand. 20 odd miles south of la Rochelle in a camping municipale on the beach.
Snack bar seems to only do liquid snacks not chips. Oh well.
Decent days riding for crossing a city. La rochelle looks spectacular
The day is saved. I can get chips.
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Bloody hell wtf with posti g pics?
Maybe you need some text?
Are you only eating chips and the occasional pastry?
Bread and cheese mainly with a lot of fruit. Pasta and / or rice and veg most nights. Chips are a treat. As is a beer
My 30 euro a day budget is more an aspiration than a reality but im trying to do this on the cheap and healthy
It would help if the beer didnt keep evaporating
My way of ripening but not bruising peaches. I ate 4 today. * rubs tum*
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Ffs pics seem random if they show
I have just abandoned my bike at my pitch and headed for the snack bar. Not showered or put my tent up. Chips n beer come first today
Remember i am a trained athlete molgrips. I follow alf tuppers methods
Link for the young and ignorant
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alf_Tupper
There aren't many campings municipaux left on the coast, they've mainly been sold off as the labour costs meant communes were losing money on them. The camping revival means the people who bought them are doing OK. You might just be able to see Fort Bayard from the southern end of the campsite if I've correctly guessed where you are. It was built because the guns of the day didn't have enough range to cover the gap between Île d'Aix and Île d'Olèron but by the time it was finished it was redundant given the improvement in guns.
Posting a photo of the pont transbordeur tomorrow is obligatory.
Nearest town is fouras
Camping Espèrance then, go on then, post a pic of Fort Bayard if the lens on you phone camera is up to it.
Yes
Ill have a go once face stuffed and tent up
Managed to put the tent up. Bread and croissants ordered for the morning. Time for a walk on the beach at dusk. This is a tough one. Its when i miss julie so much is walking on the beach
If you get the chance visit Brouage. A wee walled village-lots of history. And if you like oysters you are approaching the right area!
Courage mon brave.
Ouch
I think this may be fort boyard. My best guess anyway
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Ffs posting pics
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Effing black dot in the centre if the pic works this time
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I’ve really enjoyed this TJ and all the comments it’s attracted.
That's it. 🙂 There are Vauban fortifications all the way around that coastline. Some reading to send you to sleep:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_Rochefort
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Basque_Roads
I rode part of the eurovelo 4 round Normandy today and I now understand why you wanted to do shortcuts. It was great if you just wanted a bimble with the family but less fun if you wanted to get somewhere
On the section TJ is riding at the moment it's worth staying on the cycle route IMO, Leffeboy, it takes you past many places of interest and you get great sea/landscapes. However it must be more than double the distance of the shortest route between La Rochelle and Royan. When I did it I had the attitude that the route was what I was there for and it was a pity to leave it it and get buzzed by cars along routes départementales. However, other sections were just winding through pine forests with no views, TJ has already nipped past some of those when he cut the corner from Nantes to the coast.
Agree that getting buzzed isn't fun and some of the coastal stuff was nice but it did feel like we were being kept off of the roads by taking every path almost up to the road then away again and then back.
A few years back I rode quite a bit of what you are about to do, but over two trips. I did the eurovelo route, but started from Lourdes (which was an experience). Also from Santiago to Biarritz. Really enjoyed the region you’ve just passed through. The section from Biarritz to Bilbao was fantastic though, loved that.
If you decide to keep going in Spain you’ll pass the largest sea cliff nesting colony of vultures in Europe - you’ll know when you are there as they fly just above your head in considerable numbers. I followed the northern most Camino route along the Spanish coast. Lovely people, awesome food and stupidly cheap - had a 3 course dinner, with a full bottle if red, for 12 euros on one camp site (possibly Santandaer)
I’ve really enjoyed this TJ and all the comments it’s attracted.
Its definitely one of the better threads to read (aside from when I was running low on food and saw some nice photos of grub).
The occasional tjs recovery ride and weird nutters on campsites (to paraphrase slightly) side by side has also been funny.
Ah TJ you are just down the coast from where the good family kimbers are staying at St Hilaire de Riez !
So close
Tonight's sunset was fantastic
Shame to miss you Kimbers
Morning coffee on tbe beach
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Someone asked about solar powered ebikes. There is one on site. Huge 3 wheel trailer with solar panels
This is a tough one. Its when i miss julie so much is walking on the beach
If you miss her she's still there! She won't be leaving you. Take care.
This mornings croissants are still warm
Yummy
I was talking to the chap with the solar e bike. The huge trailer is also a stage. He is doing electronic music gigs with it as well. All from the solar panels. He has overrun brakes. Regeneration braking and an auto mode using a strain gauge on the tow hitch. 200kg trailer
The solar trailer needs to be in the sunshine 😂.
Wouldn't want to tow it up any long or steep hills.
The solar trailer needs to be in the sunshine
😂 He’s missed a trick there!
In Marennes tonight and gonna have at least one day off the bike here
Lovely site with swimming pool chips and beer along with a special corner for cyclists that is cheap.
The "special corner"...are you sure it's for all cyclists?
😉
Marennes? I had a brilliant long summer on my gap year working on a campsite in Marennes a couple of decades ago. Wonderful part of the world.
Do try and explore Bordeaux if you get the chance!
Lolz at Matt
I think i have plenty of time to get to Spain now s im gonna check details and see what is what. Might be able to afford a few days off.
Wot, no pic of the pont transbordeur?
Make the most of the good weather tomorrow, it looks like it will be stormy for a few days. It's a deluge right now in Pau.
I have been so baked in the sun for so long some rain wouldnot go amiss.
I took a strava line and missed the transporter bridge. Lovely old railway and canal side this afternoon.
Gonna meet up with me edukator? Come ride a day or two with me? I might even come in from the coast a bit.😀😎
I'm double jealous of the ride and beer today - I'm feeling properly ill....