Day 5 Melting in Meuse

The temperature hit 33c today, somewhat warm to be riding a bicycle up and down hills.

As it was so hot, I hitched a lift for 20 miles to the edge of the Forest of Argonne. I chose that drop off as I thought a forest would be cooler, not realising the historical significance. It was where trench warfare began and ended and where thousands of soldiers died.

One of the most moving places I’ve seen during my travels on a bicycle.

Today’s campsite was definitely one of the best ever. Camping Domaine du Buisson was in Louvemont also known as the middle of nowhere. Our pitch was by the side of a fast running stream with resident Coypu families.

Lots of this happening on this holiday:

And this:

Day 4 Buzancy x2

Bit of a navigational crisis today, apparently there are two places called Buzancy in the middle of nowhere and I set off in completely the wrong direction. I realised after about 5 miles downhill and really didn’t want to cycle another 90 miles. Fortunately Support Crew was still getting organised so I went back up the hill to the campsite and hitched a lift.

Once we got to the campsite at the correct Buzancy, I got the sort of forgiven Garmin to plot a round trip course through the gorgeous Ardennes countryside.

Camping La Samaritaine was a very pretty campsite with segregated loos (phew) and another friendly native.

Day 3 Pootling through Picardy

Another hot, sunny day with glorious blue sky and yet more hills to knacker the tree trunks.

This area is of course synonymous with the horrors of World War 1 and it is very hard to imagine what it looked like 100 years ago. Both of these photos were taken at British war cemeteries.

The municipal campsite was by a lake at Le Nouvion-en-Thiérache, with some very friendly natives.

Day 2 Riding Sud-est

Time to get some miles and hills in the legs.

It was a hard but very pretty ride, I do love cycling in France with big skies, empty roads and well behaved drivers. 

The only disappointment was today’s patisserie - a rather dry pain au chocolat. Fortunately Support Crew has stocked up at the supermarket and I happily replaced all the calories. This furry friend fancied helping himself too.

The campsite at Boiry-Notre-Dame also reintroduced me to the joy of mixed sex campsite toilets - really not my favourite aspect of camping 🙈

Day 1 Pootling around the Cote D’Opale

It was slightly cooler today and a beautiful day to do one of my favourite rides.

Lunch and dinner were the favourite mixture of goodies from Carrefour - only problem is a van smelling of cheese.

Calais to Colmar (ish)

Another cunning plan, to cycle to the Tour de France, as one does. This was the original route plan, 481 miles, rather a lot of climbing and lots of patisseries, supported of course by the man in the van.

We crossed the Channel on Saturday 29th June and headed to a favourite campsite at Guînes. It was 34c when we arrived so no cycling for me, just a warm up patisserie and lots of cold beer.

Fortunately it cooled down enough to get some sleep, the campervan’s air conditioning ie door open is not ideal.