Tuesday 30th May Day seventeen Naujac sur Mer to Lacanau: 41km 298m Climbed       2hr 18′ Total Distance 829km My office this morning is on the decking outside the bar, overlooking the lake at a blue sky dotted with fluffy blue clouds. It is one of my favourite views and a mental photo … Continue reading Nous Sommes Arrives A Le Tedey!

Monday 29th May Day seventeen Naujac sur Mer to Lacanau: 41km 298m Climbed       2hr 18' Total Distance 829km Hi All Just to say that the first objective was completed when earlier this afternoon I rode into Le Tedey campsite. We are stopping here for at least a couple of days and there may be … Continue reading We are in Le Tedey!

Sunday 28th May Day sixteen Marennes to La Palmyre:                 39km, 97m climbed,      2hr 20’ Total Distance     788km This section has got to be my favourite so far. This may be influenced by the fact that I have finally left the marshes and most of the mozzies behind. It started well by crossing this elegant bridge … Continue reading It Is Still Scorchio!

This is my rewrite of the lost post... Saturday 27th May Day fifteen Chatelaillon to Marennes:                67km, 191m climbed,   3hr 53’ Total Distance     749km Well our resident restaurant critic was right about the restaurant. It was a terrific amalgam of French and Italian food. One thing that she had overlooked though was that she wasn’t … Continue reading Scorchio!

Campsites and Aires I now feel fairly well qualified to discuss the pros and cons of the campsites we have visited. (13 including today.) We decided not to try and pre book any sites as we didn’t know how the adventure was going to shape up and out of season didn’t think it would be … Continue reading The Lady in the Van (part 3) or The Bird in the Bus –Thanks Darren

Friday 26th May Day fourteen St Michel en L’Herm to Chatelaillon:            70km, 166m climbed,   4hr 37’ Total Distance     682km Every Grand Tour has its doping scandal and so has mine! The day started innocuously enough; we even managed a new best depart time of 0916 to try and beat the worst of the heat (me) … Continue reading A Coke-fuelled Sleigh Ride into La Rochelle!

Thursday 25th May Day thirteen Talmont St Hilaire to St Michel L’Herm:      56km, 228m climbed,   3hr 36’ Total Distance     612km Today started in a most unusual way with a meeting called by the Organising Committee with representatives of the competitors [Ed. participant surely?] to discuss a possible change to the published itinerary due to the … Continue reading Hot and Windy

  Wednesday 24th May Day twelve Notre Dame de Monts to Talmont St Hilaire to Barre de Monts:         83km, 377m climbed,   5hr 30’ Total Distance     556km Today was a classic Velodyssee day. It was just the sort of thing I had imagined countless times since the idea began to form. The route took me through … Continue reading La Vendee â Velo

  Sat Nav adventures. When we decided to undertake this French challenge, (or rather Howard decided.) my one stipulation was that I had to have a decent Sat Nav.) Being the generous and considerate person that he is Howard agreed and began to research, which would be best. We chose one with extra large screen … Continue reading More from the lady in the van.

  So everyone has heard all about Howard’s events on the bike, but I hear you cry, what about the support crew? We all know how Howard loves to share his historical and geographical snippets, but sorry I’m not going to try and emulate his style. I’m taking on the chat and gossip column and … Continue reading The Lady in the Van