Day 14: Merens-Andorra de Ville (58 Km)

De Day 14: Merens-Andorra de Ville (58 Km)

Hills!!!

We had a bit of a lie in this morning and managed to leave the campsite around 1045. Last night we were entertained by a fantastic lightning show that we reckon was in the valley beside us. 

1 hour into the day & our second 'S-Bend'

There isn't much to say about actually going up the hill towards Andorra except that I found it really challenging! 

This photo was taken at an altitude of 1300m. Still a bit to go yet...

We finally made it to the France/Andorra border at around 1400 and to be honest we were both pretty gutted that there wasn't a bit more to see, just a few policemen in huts. The first town we came to is known as 'Pas de la Casa'. We reckon that to gain access to this town you either need to have a funny walk or no teeth-just an observation. Anyway, the town was jam packed with French families who obviously cross the border to make use of the tax free shops. We just bought a couple of hundred boxes of cigarettes & a case of whiskey. We quickly left the town and made our final accent to the top! 

It felt like these signs never ended. 

The town of Pas de la Casa & the road we travelled up. 

I managed to get to the top of the mountain at around 1600 & was over the moon, however, it's a shame that the locals have let the place become such a state. There is rubbish all over the place & 2 petrol stations to stare at. I'm still well chuffed though!

A John Niven at the top. 

A very sweaty, tired Ross Gardiner at the top. 

We had done the hard part & now the fun began. We had 18 miles to go to Andorra de Ville & it was all downhill! 

 Vvvvvvroooooom!

I was averaging about 50 kph going down the hill until the freezing cold rain started. What a dampener, literally. It was still great fun. 

We have checked into a 4* Hotel for tonight & just been out for another pizza. 

Ross & John

Day 13: Tarascon-Merens (40 Km)

Day 13: Tarascon-Merens (40 Km)

HILLS!!!

Today has been another big day for us. We left our camp this morning & headed towards Andorra on the N20, the only road from Toulouse to Andorra. It's quite a busy road but luckily there is a small path at the side where we can cycle. 

Loads of food for big hills. I'm super fed up with Pains au Chocolats. 

 It's been great cycling in the hills instead of constant flat farm land but wow it's a lot harder (Danny, it's like that hill we used to do hill reps on except it doesn't stop after 10). We stopped for lunch in a nice town which I imagine is fair hoaching during the ski season. 

The town has a few natural hot springs which we found to be pretty good to dunk out feet in-well until the constant sulphur smell gets too much. 

I must admit that after lunch the gradient of the hill got a lot steeper & I began to struggle. We kept pushing the pedals until around 1530 where we came to the last campsite marked on the map. Lucky we stopped as a severe weather warning had been issued for storms in the area, luckily they came to nothing. 

...hills I suppose. 

Dinner tonight consisted of a microwave meal from the campsite & 2 ration pack boil in the bags! 

Tomorrows plan is to get to Andorra. Just a mere 25km to the border, however, we still have to climb 1200 meters. 

Leave us some comments please-it's great to hear from people!

Ross & John 

Day 12: Foix-Tarascon (20 Km)

Day 12: Foix-Tarascon (20 Km)

We had a brilliant nights sleep last night in the hotel just outside Foix. After such a hard day yesterday we decided to cycle right to the bottom of the hills today and stop here for the afternoon. Today's been a kind of working day off with lots of bike maintenance and our first washing! 

 Admin Day in the Pyrenees. 

Feeding the ducks like wee boys!

We have just made a massive mushroom curry & caught up with some friends on FaceTime! Our plan is to have a really cold glass bottle of coke and discuss our plan for tomorrow but with 50 miles to go until Andorra it looks unlikely we will get there tomorrow. 

We are going to attempt the road tomorrow but with bad weather forecast and only one road to Andorra we may find ourselves coming back down the hill to rethink out plans. 

Great to speak with good mates on FaceTime :)

Ross & John

Day 11: Toulouse-Foix (89 Km)

Day 11: Toulouse-Foix (92 Km)

Another big day today and boy was it hot!

We stayed in a right dodgey camp site last night so decided to get up early and hit the road. 

It took us quite a while to get out of Toulouse itself but when we did we were greeted with some pretty amazing roads with lots of uphill and obviously lots of downhill runs where we managed to get up to speeds of 50 Km. 

I can't see this photo that well on my phone but this was our first view of the Pyrenees, yeehaaa. 

As the temperature began to rise above 30 degrees I began to slow quite rapidly but after a quick water stop we were back on the road. 

Fields & fields full of Sunflowers. Does anyone know why they are growing them? Seeds? Biomass? Both?

We are now in a hotel in a place called Foix. The shower is amazing!!! We have just been out for some food-pizza & chips! Yummers. 

We now plan on heading in the direction of Andorra but are checking in with the local Tourist Information Centre to see what the craic is. 

Ross & John

Day 10: Bourges-Toulouse

Day 10: Bourges-Toulouse

Toulouse. 

Today we spent the day sitting on a train to Toulouse. 

Not much to report. 

Ross & John

Day 9: Henrichemont-Bourges (35 Km)

Day 8: Henrichemont-Bourges (35 Km)

The day of pictures...

We pass lots of fields everyday,however, this field has been my favourite so far. Lots of flowers. 

Don't really know what to say about this one... ... As you can see I've attached a new rocket to the back of my bike for added propulsion up the hills, winner!!!

2 heavy bikes outside Gare de Bourges.  

It was a hot, hot, hot day today. Not a cloud in site. 

We spent some time watching the French Army prepare for a parade which we then watched the beginning of this evening. Still don't know what it was about though. 

Not something you expect to see this far south of Dover.

We spent our afternoon eating French baguettes and ice lollies whilst resting in the shade of some lovely trees in the middle of town.

We are now in another campsite this evening as the local youth hostel wanted to charge us €25 each for one night in a dodgy dorm. 

Tomorrow we are jumping on the train to Toulouse as we want to get the Pyrenees done before the snow hits. Our plan for the next couple of weeks is; Toulouse-Andorra-Barcelona. Here comes the pain train legs!!

Ross & John

Day 8: Gien-Henrichemont (72 Km)

Day 8: Gien-Henrichemont (72 Km)

Today's been the hardest day for me so far. Lots of hills & roasting sunshine. 

We left Gien quite late this morning and headed west as the main road from Gien to Bourges is too busy for us. We soon made our way back onto the country roads though. 

We have seen quite a bit of the French countryside so far and we are both looking forward to getting into the hills at some point. 

We arrived in Henrichemont around 1630 & with 30 Km to still do to reach Bourges we decided to call it quits for the day & find a suitable place to stay the night. 

Once agin, we are in a campsite. 

I will try & get some better photos from now on. These camp shots are getting a bit boring, eh?

Dinner tonight was lush. LOADS of rice, 2 peppers, an onion and a jar of Korma sauce. Went down a treat. Usually we eat spaghetti and veg with some sort of tomato sauce and an added splash of basil. 

  

We spend all day cycling through the countryside and then we get to the campsite and have nothing to do. Nights become pretty boring. We can't go to the pub/town because we can't leave all our gear in our tents etc. We are thinking about changing our schedule and starting really early in the morning (leave camp for 0700) and going to sleep as the sun sets. 

Aiming to stay in a hostel tomorrow night somewhere. I look forward to the beds and showers! I stink...

Ross & John

Day 7: Fontainebleau-Gien (95 Km)

Day 7: Fontainebleau-Gien (95 Km)

Today's journey has taken us through some magnificent parts of France, wow. 

After a great nights sleep in Font we were on the bikes for around 0900 & with a quick stop at the Boulangerie to stock up on various sweet pastries we were soon back on the road south. Our route today followed various country roads through small French towns, however, ALL the towns were silent. We soon realised that it must be a day of rest for the French. 

We stopped in the town of Montargis for our lunch. I must admit, a weird one today; a loaf of brioche with laughing cow cheese and chorizo. 

So where are we now? Gien. 

The view from our camp. The town of Gien in the backgroud with the River Loire. 

Dave!! the minion keeping me company on the journey-good guy, doesn't talk much though. 

Tomorrow we are heading for the town of  Bourges. 

Ross & John

Fontainebleau

We had a yarn with the Belgian lads last night and got pointed towards a climbing area in the west of the forest.  I don't think they understand how we had no map of the area, a guidebook or any firm idea of where we were heading next... We're internationally confusing!

Their English was outstanding and their ability to hold a conversation in a foreign tongue embarrassingly good.  In return we provided bad jokes! It really must run in Niven blood...

We had a lazy morning after a freezing cold night and got underway after 10.  A quick stop in town for supplies and we were off towards the boulders.  With no map and part-remembered directions we surprisingly got there without a problem! I was pretty excited to be at the Mecca of bouldering in Europe!

Happy after my first problem at Font

I can't remember the name of the area but it's apparently famous and sounds like 'fenchund and the artistes' if anyone fancies some research...

We climbed and gawped for a few hours in the sun then dozed on a comfy rock, before heading back to town for retail therapy.

I couldn't finish it :(

Fontainebleau town is great, clean and bustling. It was a pity we couldn't spend some time there as tourists and look inside the castle. 

The closest we got to the chateau!

I have to say i was pretty frustrated bouldering without a crashpad and a guidebook. However it made me even more keen to return, so if anyone would like to come please get on touch!

Back to the bivvy site for dinner before it got dark. Our plan tomorrow is to head for Nemours and the Loire valley to the south. With luck this weather will hold all the way!

Ruff & Jemimah

Day 5: Melun-Font (28 Km)

Day 5: Melun-Font (28 Km)

After a tiresome search for somewhere cheap to stay last night in Paris we finally gave in and spent the night in a swanky hotel. 

We met up with Demi & Chloe who had literally shopped till they dropped-they both looked like they had cycled from Belfast to Paris. It was a great night filled with lots of fun, food, stories and wandering about Paris. Thanks to the girls for a good night out. 

We went our own ways this afternoon, Demi & Chloe jumped on a train back to the airport & John and I got a short train out of Paris to avoid the hectic traffic and began cycling from a town called Melun. Today's cycling was fantastic. Long, flat, well surfaced roads where we were averaging around 30 kph, well that was until we were met with the biggest hill in France. John managed to cycle the whole way up but I decided it would be quicker for me to walk up.

The weather today has been fantastic, around 22 degrees-just what the doctor ordered. It was obviously a good day to be outside, we passed about 5 'ladies of the night' and met plenty of cyclists. Pascal, our new friend took us directly from Font centre to our campsite for the night. It's a brilliant spot and best of all it's free!!!

John modelling our stoves.

Tomorrow we plan on getting some bouldering done. A group of Belgian climbers have just turned up so we are hoping to get a look at their guidebook & see where is best to go. 

Thanks for following guys!!!

Ross & John. 

Day 4: Abbeville-Amiens (50 km)

Day 4: Abbeville-Amiens (50 Km)

Quite a short day today but to be honest, I needed it. My legs are starting to get tired so I'm happy with the afternoons rest. 

We left Abbeville this morning and made our way towards Amiens on a lovely quiet country road. We have also found a petrol station that's happy to fill up our fuel bottles for our stoves YIPPEEE!!

We came across Couy (?) British Cemetery. I think that's what it was called but maybe someone more knowledgable will know. This was my first time in a cemetery like this and it shocked me as I always had imagined it would. 

Couy Cemetery. 'We will remember them'

We are now on a train to Paris to meet Demi & Chloe and looking forward to a massive dinner & a goods night sleep. 

John sorting his kit out on the train. 

I think the plan is now to head towards Font and spend a few days bouldering there. 

Ross & John

Day 3: Condette-Abbeville (85km)

Day 3: Condette-Abbeville (85km)

Thankfully the rain has stopped today & the sun has came out. 

Day 3 of our expedition has been good fun & quite challenging in places. We left our campsite at around 1000 this morning and continued to make our way south following beautiful country roads & cycle paths through forests, small French towns and countryside. The roads have been a lot flatter today and with no crazy winds we managed to travel quite far. 

We are now in a campsite just outside Abbeville. We are both pretty tired and looking forward to a goods night sleep. 

Out campsite for the night. 

Ross & John. 

Day 2: Calais-Condette (65 Km)

Day 2: Calais-Condette (65 Km)

What a first day, it's been manic but very enjoyable. 

We left Calais this morning after getting a few groceries & maps and headed along a beautiful coast road (D940) towards Boulogne Sur Mer.  The weather has been variable to say the least. Our morning session started off very warm but REALLY windy, gusting 85kph according to the local weather forecast so as you can imagine a nice easy cycle to warm up with. 

A nice view looking towards the white cliffs of Dover. 

We stopped for some lunch in a small remote French town called Ambeltouse & had a bit of a break before carrying onwards to Boulogne. 

The weather changed as we arrived in Boulogne & we were greeted with persistent heavy rain for the last 15 Km's to Condette. 

First puncture award goes to me. 

We are now in a lovely campsite just outside Condette & looking forward to a sunny day tomorrow. 

Ross & John

Day 1: Liverpool-Calais

Day 1: Liverpool-Calais

Last night John & I met in Liverpool and spent the evening with a good friend of mine, Danny. Plenty to catch up on as we have all been away doing various exciting 'things' through the summer. A big thanks to Danny & Emma for kindly letting us crash at their house last night. 

We set off early this morning and made our way to Liverpool Lime Street station and jumped on the 1148 Virgin Train to London and then onwards to Dover. 

  John happy to finally be at the docks        after a long day of public transport. 

Coming off the ferry in Calais was an adventure in itself,lots of lorries and cars!! 

We have got to our hotel safe and sound and excited to start cycling tomorrow. 

Lessons Learnt today:

1. London train staff are helpful. 

2. Dover ferry staff are not. 

Ross & John