August 1, 2016This morning we started our ride in France, entered Germany for about two kms before crossing into Switzerland at Basel and then returning to Germany to look for somewhere to stay. We are following the Rhine for a couple of days before making our way to the Danube.When we entered one town with a sign listing the various accommodation options that welcome bikers, Gord gave ...
Gordon: We have survived "Black Saturday", the busiest day of the year on the highways of France. Many people still take their annual vacation in August, and this was the kickoff weekend. According to the media, the roads, hotels and campgrounds are all at the bursting point as people make their way to their holiday destination, often the sea or the mountains. Fortunately, we were ...
Gordon: After 19 days of riding, covering 1150 kilometres, we are taking a rest day in Besançon. The ride from Dole was glorious, as we followed the Doubs River and associated canals upstream through the foothills of the Jura Mountains. At one point we paused for an excursion through a canal tunnel that has been turned into a work of visual art, as well as ...
Gordon: In cycling from Beaune to Dole we journeyed from a node on the travel circuit to a relatively unknown city. Mostly due to wine, Beaune is teeming with tourists, many from other countries (we even noticed a significant American presence). The historical core of the city is buffed and polished, with every second shop offering wine tastings and sales. We had to stay outside ...
July 26, 2016Ruth: As soon as my sister heard we were going to France she started researching different towns that we shouldn't miss and adding them to my google map of the trip. Beaune in the heart of Burgundy, was one of the first towns she included. We have not followed all of her suggestions but today we did taking a side trip on a beautiful ...
July 24, 2016 Paray-le-MonialGordon: After 800 kilometres we parted company with the Loire today. In its stead we are now predominantly following canals. These make for lovely cycling: they are flat, lined with trees, and you see interesting things such as canal boats, locks, and canal bridges. The later are particularly interesting, as they involve the construction of a usable canal above a river.The canal ...
GordonWe last visited Nevers while on the Vezelay pilgrimage route to Santiago. During that visit it was cold and rainy, and we were staying in less than ideal pilgrim accommodation. This visit has gone much better. The temperature is a pleasant 25 degrees, allowing us to read and eat in the atrium of our hotel. We are staying with the Cat Lady of Nevers. The ...
GordonWe saw a cock pheasant running along the edge of a field yesterday. It was magnificent, although it was strangely without tail feathers. The image inspired Ruth's first musical composition of the trip, a blues / funk number we will call "Hey pheasant, who took your feathers?". It joins works from earlier trips such as "The KVR, McCulloch's Wonder", cowritten with Bruce, both heavily influenced ...
July 21st, 2016When the Lord is away we certainly do play.... It turns out that our ancestors may well have come from this region. It was hard not to notice the close family resemblance to both of us in the paintings at the Chateau de Saint- Brisson-sur-Loire. Our ride yesterday was just dotted with Chateaus but we stopped to visit and play at Saint-Brisson.The minor Chateaus ...
They say a man's home is his castle, but there are castles and then there are tents. We are camping tonight just across the river from the Chateau de Sully, but don't despair, this is no hard luck story. Tonight we are trying out a three star campground. The extra star brings with it a swimming pool, mini golf and the all important toilet paper. This ...