07 July 2010 Wednesday

So this is the first of my posts for the summer vacation of 2010.


I will update as & when I can, but it may not be every day-depends of web access and what I'm up to in the evening!




My first trip is to Burgundy Fest at my biking friend's Liz & Ian at their house in ,yep you guessed it, Burgundy!. There are going to be about 30 bikers going &it all kicks off Friday afternoon,but I.m taking the long way down to her house,so leaving today Wednesday.


My plan to pack the bike & leave it in the shed works well-so think I will do that again.

6.30 am All set and ready to go!

An uneventful ride to Folkestone-except for spotting a police car a little to late-I wasn't going that fast-about 80 but slowed down to about 74 by the time I passed him-lets hope he didn't have a camera-suppose I can only wait and see.


I thought I was going to be the only bike on the train,but then a few more arrived. I chatted to 3 guys who were on their way to WSB in Prague & then Moto GP the following weekend-nice trip!

Waiting to get on the train

Inside the train

The first  part of my route was a route recommended on http://www.bestbikingroads.com/  taking me on a short bit on the motorway then  onto N1 all the way to Amiens.


It was a nice bit of road-fast in places but through countryside and villages There were quite a few tractors,but on a bike these are easy to overtake.

I stop in Abbeville for my first expresso..now I'm really in France.

 I realise I'm getting old when I go to the loo in the cafe & its a stand up & squat one & i use it! When I was younger I would never use them!

I'd put in slight detout to the route after Abbeville to take in some 'green' ( those marked as scenic on the map) , but it turned out to be longer than expected when there was a Route Barree,which I then managed to go down from a different angle but had to go back as the biggest potholes ever!
 
It was obviuosly the day for "Route Barree" because I came across another one-this time with no  deviation signs and loads of cars parked up. I just assumed it was some sort of protest.
so double backed & used GPS to take me on another route...but another Route Barree,so tried again,but this time could see loads of cars parked so I stopped to ask a girl what was going on in my best french!! Turns out its the Tour de France-just my luck. So I stop my way ,get out my map & ask the girl what their route is so I can plan my way round.

Then on my revised route part 3 loads of cars are coming the other way-luckily I had just missed it,but there are still loads of cars parked on the road side.
 
I stop at what looks like a huge war memorial,but turns out to be just a very ugly church,but there are some public toilets & suddenly i really need to go! That is until I see them...open air urinals & a very smelly & dirty squatting loo, which i really can't face...maybe i'm not so old after all!!.
 
At the next large town I stop at Maccie d's-at least I know their loos will be ok  and of course it would be rude not to stop & have a burger ;o)
 
I'm now on the road that on the map looks very long and straight & boring, but it turns out to be quite a pretty road.
 
 I arrive at my hotel  Hotel le Sapieniere in Remilly Alicourt .

My bike is given a great parking space for the night...inside one of the function rooms with its own bar.

My room has the biggest bathroom ever as its one with disabled access. This means I get to have a lovely long deep bath, which is very unusual in France.

I unpack to find I have forgotten to pack my adaptor,duh! So I will have to limite my use of computer & phone.

I've gone for half board at this hotel ,70 euros all in,which is well worth it as the meal is lovely.

A starter of prawns,melon,onion & mint

Followed by braised ham , in an unusual curry sauce-not a combination we would normally have at home & then cheese to follow,

Having had such an early start I'm exhausted and in bed by 10.30pm!