Cycle Bretagne

Friday 31st May Sorry if you were expecting to read about yesterday’s ride. The WiFi at the hotel was unusable, I reckon we could offer them some consultancy to sort it out if we had the time (us both being networking techno types), but we are slow riders we didn’t have the time to hang around. 😊 Yesterday’s ride as predicted in our last blog was a grey cloudy day with no sunshine all day. However it was a nice ride again with rolling hills rather than steep ascents that you just keep trundling along on. Every now and then you get a fabulous view of the cost line or a bay full of long sandy beach and boats. We didn’t take a lot photos because of the poor light.  The hotel was very nice and a spacious room for a change, the hotels all the way have been fine but some a little tight for 2 guys and all the cycling kit they have (minus the bikes we haven’t had to share the room with them yet).  But we didn’t eat there and was pointed to a lovely little Creperie a short walk a...

Wednesday 29th May Well! We may have turned brown today but it would be from rust rather than Sun tan! It rained for 2.5 hours this morning on the way between Morlaix to Roscoff. The rest of the day has been a hard slog against winds and under a grey sky with no sign of sun all day.  The steeper hills have reduced to undulating, rolling ones. Much easier cycling apart from the poor weather. So we have not really stopped to admire the views. The forecast for tomorrow is much the same as today 😕.  We covered 75 km and 640 m ascent.  Our hotel is really nice literally on the beach front overlooking a rocky coast line, we’ll take a chance that the weather is better in the morning for a photo.  Chris

Tuesday 28th May Both too tired last night to write anything. Heads on pillows by 9:30 pm. Yesterday was a hard day, wind in our faces for most it but the last 10 km. When it was on backs and the difference was wonderful. We misjudged shop opening for Monday’s and could not find anything for lunch until past 3 pm.   Today’s ride was just as windy and again in our faces for most of it bar the last 15 km. We rode for 66 km / 800 m yesterday and 71 km / 1010 m ascent today. However today was much brighter and no rain, but the wind was strong and chilly under clouds or in shade. As usual there was a final hill to get up to the hotel, this one is in the middle of Morlaix, it just happens to be at the bottom of a river estuary/valley where most others towns we climb up to the top of a hill and all the side roads go up the side of the valley. Seems a nice place tonight. We are the only guests and have a couple of rooms and use of a kitchen.    Tomorrow’s forecast is not g...

Cycling was good today covering around 60kms with one climb at 8% gradient for around 120 meters - hardly Mount Ventoux but with the bags on the bikes it created a nice challenge! Lunch was a sandwich stop in a sheltered place we found in a small village. In the afternoon the weather deteriorated a bit and it started to rain so after a coffee stop we adjusted the route and cycled the main roads directly to the hotel. David

Sunday day 3 David is going to blog the day’s cycling. I am just going to mention dinner we have just finished.  We were not sure what to expect, only David had been phoned a few days earlier and asked if we would like fish or meat, we both said fish.  Well, it was an appetiser of prawns coated sesame seeds, pate on bread and chicken wrapped in fine crispy noodles. Followed by starter of mushrooms, bacon, spinach in cream and with an egg, baked in the oven. The fish was cooked in ginger, spices and tomatoes sauce, gratin courgettes, bulgar wheat and a whole steamed turnip. Finally an raspberry and banana crumble that proved impossible to finish.   One of the best meals ever on the 8 years of cycling trips over here.  Chris

Friday 25th May Took our time this morning and didn’t leave until 10:00. Good standard continental breakfast.  Cloudy when we left and the day became steadily clearer as it worn on, evidenced by the sun burn on my knees. Although less breezy than yesterday it didn’t feel any warmer, so moisturising cream tonight and loads of sun block tomorrow.  We have cycled 79 km today and between 970 m and 1200 m of climbing depending on whose gps you believe, mine being the lower one. The hills are never very steep or long, but they just keep coming and as usual the downs are over far too quick....... Wonderful views both of country side and costal. It’s gone sparklingly clear tonight, so I wish I had telescope, but it wouldn’t be used because we’ll be out for the count by 10:30 pm. It’s still very light now at 10 pm.  We did need an ice cream quite late in the afternoon as we came to a small village by the sea.  The first place was selling any because of the weather ???? ...

Chris and I met in St Malo at 12h30 and we cycled 58kms together with Chris adding another 15kms to his total while waiting on my arrival. The route took us across the Rance Barrage which was open to let a boat through as we arrived. We had some lunch in Dinar and then continued westerly following the coast with some spectacular views. We stopped for coffee and some locals thought Chris was part of the Yellow Vest movement! We arrived safely at the hotel and a short walk away we had dinner at a local crepe restaurant which was great. https://strava.app.link/Cy6ptdBeYW David

Currently on the second of three train journeys from Tours to St Malo. This TGV to Rennes to due to arrive at 11h25 and that’s followed by a 10min connection for the local train to St Malo.  https://strava.app.link/TKq2MdgKWW

Thursday 23rd May Chris is on the overnight boat sailing from Portsmouth to St Malo. Apparently loads of school wains on the boat too! Route has been plotted out on Strava and we are staying at the various places in the table below. Date   From To Distance (kms) Elevation Gain (m) 24/05/2019 Friday St Malo Frehel 64.91 799 25/05/2019 Saturday Frehel Saint-Quay-Portrieux 69.54 951 26/05/2019 Sunday Saint-Quay-Portrieux Treguier 74.02 838 27/05/2019 Monday Treguier Lannion 73.48 1028 28/05/2019 Tuesday Lannion Morlaix 71.46 1042 29/05/2019 Wednesday Morlaix Brignogan-Plages 75.37 644 30/05/2019 Thursday Brignogan-Plages Porspoder 86.77 862 31/05/2019 Friday Porspoder Brest 66.85 894 01/06/2019 Saturday Brest Camaret-Sur-Mer 133.8 1994 02/0...

On my way after a really hectic 4 days since getting back from Scotland.   It’s nice to sit back a relax on the Virgin train to London.   All my bags went on the bike nicely and the short ride to Wilmslow station was very pleasant and quite warm.   So sit back for the next hour before having to struggle across London to Waterloo.