Blogs from Chartres, Centre, France, Europe - page 3

Hi everyone Well the riding continues and so does the changing weather conditions! Our last day in Alsace was stunning. We caught a train to Selestat and did a 55km ride through the Alsace Grand Cru wine region exploring many of the gorgeous villages along the way. The weather was perfect and we even got to ride in just our cycling jerseys and shorts. We tried local delicacies being 2 Alsations washed down by 2 Storkies (explanations when we get back)! Unfortunately we couldnt wine taste but did plenty at dinner time complete with choucroute (all sorts of meats and sausages with saurkraut and mustard- yummy). Attached are a couple of piccies of the days ride to make you all jealous. We managed to successfully and with minimal stress to get our bikes and selves to ... read more

Of Kings and Castles Today was our first brush with French royalty. We stayed in our hotel in Tours for only one night. So we were up bright and early this morning, with rucksacks ready to go, a quick bite to eat, and onto the bus. Our guide Michael may be from Ireland, but he speaks with a British accent, and we are all charmed by his vocabulary. Yesterday, he saw some people having a “chin wag.” A what? Once the kids realized that meant “having a chat,” they kept asking Michael, “Are we going to have a chin wag?” So, now we all carry our rucksacks, wear our costumes at the beach, and take our jumpers for the cool nights. Oh yes, and we never miss an opportunity to go to the loo. The agenda ... read more

Yesterday I enjoyed a day trip to Chartre to see the cathedral. It was good whether and I enjoyed seeing what was one of my favorite cathedral's from art history. Like all cathedrals here it was a bit dark, dank and cold....but better to see the stained glass illuminated I suppose. Not much else to report but see the nice pictures attached. I am on my way to Vezelay in the region of Burgundy today. ... read more

Huzzah, we have already spent a week surrounded by lovely french people, fromages, and gut busting patisseries. Here's the story so far... We set sail from Dover to Calais on a very very dull ferry full of lorry drivers and "others" and of course ourselves. Our excitement shone like a a lighthouse beam in this grey world and we landed on French soil eager to test our driving skills. We headed to Carlepont, (an hour North of Paris) where we planned to spend our first night under canvas at an all-year round campsite. Apart from one inappropriate moment at a service station where both of us marched into the toilet to the sound of "Sexual Healing" being played on the speakers (causing both of us to enter separate cubicles) we arrived in Carlepont unscathed. The shock ... read more