As Nicky's post about yesterday hinted: riding here in France (when healthy) is more like riding and less like getting repeatedly punched in the face by hill after hill until just before you give in and then realizing it's time for a glass of red and some shuteye. We've had two picture-perfect days in a row: today covered more territory, 78km, but it was just as great as the day before. I think I'm over the sickness hurdle, so we were up early and back the 20km to Carnac by 9. Brekkies and a coffee and we were off along a beach road and over to Locmarquier, where we saw more big old rocks. At least I think we did. We had a guided tour at an archaeological site, but it was in French, so I only got about 23% The guide was clearly awesome though, and I knew every time he mentioned an animal either because Nicky had already taught me the word or because her face lit up. Menhirs and Dolmens oh my! Really I was happy that I understood as much as I did and the formations were pretty cool (though I'm pretty sure that Nicky's favorite part was the end when the guide told her a story about the hedgehog that used to follow his tours).
More riding on to Auray, which proudly and justifiably bills itself as a Ville Touriste. It was beautiful. Straight out of a movie. We had ridden and seen a lot so we had a three hour lunch in the old port. A bottle of Sancere, fish stew, and enough passing chiens to thrill us near-endlessly. But it had to end, so back on the bikes it was. After a brief mixup which had N headed towards the superhighway and me on another overpass yelling Ici!! ICI!! and knowing she couldn't hear me (or see that far without her lunettes). Yet we made it through a mighty headwind to Vannes. From there we trained it here (Nantes) to make up for the days lost to my illness.
A lovely day.
Some time, you should ask me to tell you about the people sitting next to us at dinner tonight. Wow.
R
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3 comments:
Glad to hear rude health more or less restored, you seem to have managed to manipulate your itinerary round your indisposition very well. Not sure how much Nicky remembers of her first encounter with Le Grand Menhir Brise and the other attractions of Locmariaquer et environs - she must have been about 6 at the time. Looking forward to seeing you both in a few days: some fairly decent weather in prospect. Commiserations to Bici et Velo on having to endure the imminent indignity of being stuffed into bags one more time: presumably if they managed to fit into a taxi they'll fit into my car.
A bientot.
I too am glad to hear that everyone is restored to good health. Brooklyn is missing you guys, but you selected a good few days of nasty swampy so-hot-that-it-makes-you-nauseous weather hear. Cats across the city can do nothing but lay down flat and listless on the floor like so many cat shaped rugs. It's great to be able to see where you guys are, can't wait to hear the in depth stories.
R
I just can't imagine we were 30 minutes away last weekend, as you guys were in Auray... I had to come back to France in emergency for a sad family event last week, but that would have cheered me up to have you with me for a break on your ride through Sud-Bretagne... I was staying in Morbihan, not far at all from Vannes, and had Nicky taken the highway by mistake, I'm pretty sure I would have seen her pass by.
I'm glad you enjoyed your tour in the area. It seems like you had not enough time to visit Vannes and the alentours, so you'll have to plan another trip, when I can show you more castle ruins and old chapels, and have you try some good charcuterie...
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Alex.
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