The Curious Cyclist

After a very relaxing and much needed day off in Foligno I set off for the campsite near Narni. I soon pick up signs for the Spoletto to Assisi cycleway and they lead me go a lovely canal side cycle path. I get to enjoy it for 40km or so before the inevitable climb. It's a very hot day, but thankfully there are plenty of trees provideing lots of shade. The temperature difference under the trees and in the sun is amazing. Trees are just brilliant. The climb peaked at 1,984 feet and was very steep in places. There were loads of white admiral butterflies sunning themselves on the road. The forest was silent save for some crickets and the rustle of dry leaves everytime a lizard scurried off. The winding descent to Terni was very ... read more

I finally got over the Gotthard Pass this afternoon. It was tough going in places, but I managed most of it. Amazingly at one point I managed to pass three cars and a horse driven carriage! I was going slightly faster than the carriage and the drivers were biding their time to make their move. As they waited I sneaked past them on the inside. They graciously left enough space for me. I think I was doing a speedy 8 or 9 kilometres per hour at the time. When I was behind the coach I had to bide my time as well. I didn't think I could keep up a sustained enough burst of speed to pass on the outside. A few yards later I made my move when the road on the inside widened to ... read more

Just a quick uodate on where I am now. Spent the last two nights in Marche-en -Famenne. A lovely little village. I've finally caught up with the other bits and pieces I had to do, so now I can concentrate on updating this blog again. Today is about 90km to Arlon. Pretty hilly i think. After two days of dull and thundery weather, the sun is back. ... read more

The road from Lisieux to Quillebeuf took me through a fertile agricultural landscape where harvesting was well underway. There were several climbs to plateaus where the road continued level before descending, only to soon climb the next plateau. The landscape is not as wild as The Sperrins or Bluestacks. I wonder what the Eatls thought of it. Just before the final descent onto the flood plain of the Seine I stopped by a field of some luxuriant purple flowered crop. I'd no idea what it was, but the butterflies were loving it. I stopped to take a few photos. There were occasional small vernacular houses and barns along the little country road near the river. Long rectangular buildings with thatched roofs topped with a ridge of living turf. No doubt the design has changed little in ... read more

Last weekend I enjoyed a mini-break from my journey to France. Storm Antonio had cleared and Sunday was a lovely day for cycling around Poole Harbour. I stayed at Woodlanders campsite near Bere Regis. Very friendly. On Saturday night it hosted a wedding, two hen nights and a stag night. It was lovely. Lovely, but not rowdy and very quiet after 11 or so. I was persuaded to give the dry cider a go. I enjoyed it so much I had a second. I haven't drank cider since Spain years ago. I also enjoyed the skilfull and artful display by a fire artist (if that's a phrase). He did a lovely performance to Massive Attack. On Sunday I did a circuit of the bay (except Wareham to Poole where I took the train). After the checking ... read more