Cycle across France 2008
Home of the Pay and Hibberd clans
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Liz says...A fantastic breakfast - last nights potatoes and omelette. A quick stop in SUPER U in Becon as today is Monday and we're uncertain if shops are shut all day.
stoppin' for gas
Busy roads up to and including Nualle as we cross over major routes into Cholet. We discover that the shops do shut, at least in small villages that make up the route. One boulanger opens at 3 and has the cheek to charge 1 euro for 500ml of water - and we all need one. Stop at Toutlemonde for espresso and a much needed rest. This is the first village that has had a less industrial feel than all those encountered today.
A toilette in Toutlemonde.
But all the way from Toutlemonde to Le Pin is the most beautiful route yet. The day gets late, the air heavy and the aroma of the countryside is wonderful and reminds me of cycling late around Glastonbury as a teenager. We try to track down an old pen-friend of Nix's and discover they've moved but her parents are still there. Get invited into a neighbours house and they manage to trouve the Trouve's and set us up with some cassis and sparkling wine. Old guy, builder, who speaks fast, wife and son. Stay for at least an hour, get tipsy and have to ride through Cerizay at night to get to our Chambre d'hote. (Concept of fart powered nitro boosts begins on this day).
Mal says...Not so picturesque today - really industrial areas. That's until we did the climb into Le Pin - very foresty and picture perfect. Le Pin looks exactly the same. Went to the Trouves old house and couldn't believe how much they improved it! Now blue with tarmac front. Still the same place though which was comforting! Trouves were out so we went for drinks with the neighbours, really difficult to understand their French. Felt light headed from the fizzy wine when we left! Rode into Cerizay in the dark. Arrived late, no dinner, had lovely bath - had bad reflux, burnt lips and aching legs! Slept through most of night except for when Liz laughed manically in his sleep!
mmmm. la cake.
We stayed at:
La Gondromière
79140 Cerizay
Tel: 05 49 80 10 45
Web: http://www.gites-de-france.com Email: damien.merceron@wanadoo.fr
Nix says...Today is our third day of cycling - 66 miles of 180 so far. We set out at 8.30am after breakfast of potatoes, noodles and eggs plus coffee, in a big bowl of course. Bruno and his 9 year old son were such fantastic hosts - even put our handwashed cycling pants and top on spin to help us dry them. There was an incredible storm the night before - lightning strikes every few seconds, claps of thunder that shook the chambre d'hote and pounding rain. It made for a much cooler day of cycling which was very welcome. I've felt good today, particularly on the hills.
lurnch on a hot day
Day 3 St Clément-de-la-Place to Cerizay: 99 kilometres/62 miles, 0830h-2000h, m up m down, 9 km/h (with breaks)
Suggested changes: The D-road from Becon to Pommeraye is very busy and used by trucks and there may be an alternative route across the Loire. Make sure you turn left as you enter Nualle as it will take you onto some traffic lights and and avoid a difficult crossing at the t-junction to the main road into Cholet. Stay in Le Pin (see day 4) as Cerizay's quite built up and busy and the route out of Le Pin is lovely.
View Larger Map
Suggested changes: The D-road from Becon to Pommeraye is very busy and used by trucks and there may be an alternative route across the Loire. Make sure you turn left as you enter Nualle as it will take you onto some traffic lights and and avoid a difficult crossing at the t-junction to the main road into Cholet. Stay in Le Pin (see day 4) as Cerizay's quite built up and busy and the route out of Le Pin is lovely.
View Larger Map
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last updated July 16 2010 © lee hibberd
last updated July 16 2010 © lee hibberd