Gordon: After an early morning climb over a minor pass, we spent most of the morning on a gentle downhill roll into Bilbao. This region was an important industrial area in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and there are some unattractive reminders of that era. The last 30 kilometres into Bilbao was on a busy highway through an uninterrupted landscape of industrial enterprises and ... Read More
Those lines really do look flat on the map! We continue to learn the same lessons but with even less forgiving terrain when you get it wrong. Those nice little back roads do nothing but climb up to mountains that need not be climbed in the first place. This morning we began climbing out of San Sebastián immediately, and when we turned off onto our ... Read More
We have entered Spain and are waiting out a rain shower before heading out of San Sebastián. There is something about me and rain on beach days. I was tired so we took a bus into the old town yesterday before walking back along the beach. Our walk was interrupted by a torrential 5 minute storm. We were instantly soaked with floating feet in our ... Read More
Ruth and Gordon: We completed the Voie de Vezélay yesterday at the pilgrim Disneyland of St. Jean Pied de Port. Suddenly we were no longer on a quiet route with just a few pilgrims. St. Jean is the starting point for many pilgrims from all over the world. At our Gite last night we shared a meal with French, Catalan, Italian and Dutch Pilgrims... Oh, ... Read More
Gordon: After a few weeks of cycling there is no more welcome sight than a smorgasbord. I do not believe they are a part of traditional French culture, but we have seen evidence (including advertisements and expanding waistlines) that they are becoming more common here. In any event, we stumbled upon a buffet in our search for a lunch out today. At 13 euros per ... Read More
Ruth and Gord: In Sorgues, the self proclaimed black Perigord truffle capital of the world, we purchased 20 grams of the ugly brown mushrooms for 25€. While we were breaking the bank, we threw in a tiny 30 gram can of pâté de foie gras for 18€. Tonight was our first night since then with access to a kitchen, at the municipal refuge for pilgrims ... Read More
There is really nothing better than sitting outside and eating a fabulous meal with our lovely French hosts Clair and Jean Paul Meric. They are busy people with both a Gite and Chambres D'hotes. There property is set in the valley along a river and includes an old mill. They hope to have their own power generation soon. With all this to take care of they ... Read More
We are in Saint Ferme staying at a wonderful Pilgrim Gite with our host and Hospitallero Dominique. This is the true pilgrim experience that we always hope for along the route. Dominique welcomed us with a cool drink and showed us around before starting preparations for our dinner. Dinner was a lovely multi course meal with wine and great conversation. After dinner Jean Claude came ... Read More
When Marg made a toast at dinner last night both Gord and I thought she said, " to the end," but she was really toasting the "Ns" or well graded National highways we have been riding on for the last two days. In a hilly landscape they are much easier and the traffic has not been bad. There is a bit of a rush right ... Read More
We are in Limoges staying with the Sisters of Saint Francis de Assisi just a stones throw from the Cathedral. The Cathedral from our court yard.As tempting as it might be, China and cycling trips are not a good combination. Too bad because there are lots of discount and high end shops here overflowing with lovely pieces.