A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
Another recumbent bike epic across France. There seems to be a theme developing, accidentally, but based on European Bike Express' collection points; the last one was B to B (Beaune to Barcelona), this one is A to A.
Having gone down the east of France and over the Massif Central last year this year I thought I'd explore the westerly area a little more. So, this trip went from Auxerre, followed the Canal du Nivernais to Decize, went west towards Chateauroux and Le Blanc then Poiter, followed La Vienne river skirting Angouleme, Limoge and Perigeux to get to La Reole, finally following the Canal Entre Deux Mers to Toulouse and a bit beyond before returning to Agen for the coach journey home.
About 1,500km in all.
Date of event: 7/5/2010
21st July. 65km approx, 17.9km/hr, max 38km/hr
The distance figures are approximate because I managed to zero my cycle computer at Agen.
I had a nice tootle into Agen, passing lots of pilgrims since this part of the canal coincides with a St Jacques de Compostelle route.
I met more recumbent cyclists over the 6 day's along this canal than I'd ever met before. This fellow was riding an older Optima recumbent, we stopped and chatted for some time, of course.
You probably don't get much of an impression from the earlier photos of how early it is, but this photo back towards the sun, still low in the sky at 7.30, gives more of an idea of the still quietness of the morning.
I never quite tire of great looking houses in France. This one, overlooking the valley, looked very attractive.