Day 7.  St Hilaire-de-Riez to La Rochelle. 134 kms, av 23km/hr, 5hrs 47mins, ascent 566m. Hot (30 deg C) and sunny all day. Very flat and open country with straight roads. Considering our route we saw little of the sea and everywhere is deserted. This we find surprising as all the hotels say they're full. We have ended up in La Rochelle in a very cheap motel right beside/in-between 2 motorways. It's a shame, as tomorrow is our day of rest. We will no doubt go exploring on foot or by taxi, not by cycle! We entertain ourselves shouting abuse at dogs in German, very funny.  All started last night in Hotel Frederick at St Hilaire which was like something out of Allo Allo. Both fell off our bikes today in a village called Champaigne, no lasting damage likely, just need to avoid the kerb and each other. Savlon and a new inner tube got us going again. We really are motoring now, no time to sight see or enjoy the towns we pass through. Good endurance test but don't recommend it as a way of appreciating France.

Day 6.  Guerande to Sainte Hilaire de Riez. 119kms, av.21.8km/hr, 5hrs 28mins, 513 ascent. Sunny all day. It must be about 26 degrees C, but when you are cycling it doesn't feel hot. We have hugged the coast all day and it's flat, at last. The only problem is there are no downhill stretches, which we use to stand up and relieve the aching behind, you can't win. We have passed lots of holiday camps with the normal crazy golf and themed swimming pools etc., good to pass them by quickly. Starting to get pine trees along the route which smell wonderful in the heat. Fast pace and little rest time. I'm at a stage where I feel I could cycle all day long and it feels great. Poor JJ is now suffering knee problems but I hope the knee support, deepheat, red wine and anti-inflammatory pills will keep him going. Had our first puncture today, nothing to do with the tyre being pricked, just JJ pumping too violently and rupturing the tube by the valve! Spare tyre fixed that and a lesson to learn not to do too much maintenance when all is going well. Biggest day ahead tomorrow to La Rochelle then a day off. It will be welcome and we can put the chess set to use.

Day 5.  Paimpont to Guerande. 118 kms, av 20.6km/hr, 5hr 12mins. 1277m ascent. Hot and sunny all day, none of the thunder and lightning forecast. Very wooded and rolling hills, fewer towns and people. As we approach the coast the land started to flatten which is a relief as the hills are tiresome. You spend 20 seconds going down them and 20 minutes climbing up the next. Our routine is settling into 8 am alarm, breakfast and warm-up muscles, 9.30 am depart and stop at 11.30 am for 15 mins rest and drink, another 2 hrs approx cycle then 30 min lunch, finally 2 more hrs approx and that's it. Then wash kit, bath and rest until supper at 7 pm and bed at 10 pm. Very easy and surprising how the days seem to be passing as well as the kms. The first 2 hour ride per day is really very pleasant, the second 2 hours are always starting to get uncomfortable and the last 2 hours are not much fun. Great relief to arrive at the hotel each afternoon at approx 5 pm. Felt good all day today, both JJ and I were taking anti-inflammatory pills and it seems to do the trick with the knees. Drank a lot more water due to the heat.

Day 4.  Chateaubourg to Paimpont. 88kms, av. 19km/hr, 4hrs 36mins. 761m ascent. Clear blue sky and warm, so sun cream used for first time. Day ended in a rainstorm but only lasted half hour and we were partly sheltered by the canopy of the Forest of Paimpont. Hardest day yet due to muscle tiredness and pain in left knee. Stocked up on deepheat cream and anti-inflammatory pills from a chemist en-route, hopefully won't develop into anything. More beautiful countryside and farms, lots of time today on quiet B roads bypassing Rennes.

 

Day 3.  Vire to Chateaubourg: 111.8kms, av 20.5kms/hr, 5hrs 26mins. Started very overcast, dark grey clouds threatening heavy rain, but by 11 am we had sunshine and it lasted the whole day. Long hills for the whole distance, slowed our progress and sapped the strength from your legs. Never knew there were so many hills in Normandy! Too much time on equivalent of A roads which enable you to get a move on and cover the distances but you are conscious of the road and effort the whole time, whereas when you go on the lanes you are distracted the by the farms, animals and rural French sights. Everything is going well, route, weather, physical condition (knees sore after about 4 hrs peddling but worse when stop/starting so it's best to keep going) and equipment, fingers crossed it continues. I hope it's going to be like skiing where day 3 is always the most painful and after that your body settles into the exercise and you get stronger. Looking forward to getting to the coast.

Day 2.  Ouistreham (north of Caen) to Vire: 94.2 kms, av. 21.6, 4hrs 35mins. Dry, cloudy with sunny intervals. Steady medium pace, long hills with 1071m ascent. Just JJ and I from now on. Great to be cycling in France, roads are quiet, mostly smooth and lots of interesting countryside. Reminds me of school days and cycling around in Belgium. I enjoy looking at all the old properties, especially the small chateaus with their tree lined avenues. Navigation is easy and JJ's small laminated maps attached to the handle bar is a great system. Fell over turning slowly and foot didn't release from peddle, don't think anything was damaged. Settling into routine and building up to some long days ahead. Vire is not a place to rush back to.

Day 1.  Andover to Portsmouth ferry terminal: 84.41 kms, av. 23.8 kms/hr, 3hrs 32mins. 581 ascent. Dry, cloudy with sunny intervals. We cycled fast, hard work due to full packs for first time and pace. Joined by Andrew Murray and Julian Harbottle with great send off from Fran’s house. Good entertainment cycling with friends but not a good route via Romsey and Eastleigh, as roads too busy to enjoy talking to each other.

The reason why:

On the 16^th September, I will be setting off from Tangley near and hoping to complete an unsupported bicycle ride of approximately 1,000 miles arriving in San Sebastian Northern Spain two weeks later.  I will be accompanied by one other friend, Justin Whitehead, and I am aiming to fulfil this challenge and raise money in support of The Countess of Brecknock Hospice. 

One of our closest friends, Louis Bernon, lost the battle against cancer in February of this year and spent his last few weeks being cared for at this hospice.  I was impressed by the care and support they provided Louis and his family and so would like to raise as much money as possible through this event to enable them to continue their good work.

Monies raised will go directly to the hospice and help them with; the running costs of the day care centre, providing a high ratio of nursing staff to patients, medical cover at weekends and an environment as homely as possible. 

If you would like to find out more of what this charity does, please look at the following www.countessofbrecknockhospice.co.uk.

My goal is to raise £6,000 and I would really appreciate any contribution you are able to make, large or small.  Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Many thanks for your support.

Robert MacDonald