Bike trip France/Spain 3/9/11

[barnhatter]

Day 1 3/9/11
Home to Les Andelys

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Worked half the night so didn't get going as early as hoped.
Booked a two oclock train across but apart from leaving a bit late also travel chaos on the M25 meant I only got to the tunnel at three.
The weather was one of the very hot days that we had this summer.
No problems at the tunnel so got the next train and off I went.

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As i was late used the motorways to get to the campsite at Les Andelys
Pleasant weather until I got to Les Andelys.
Clouds were getting heavier as I got there, stopped to get some provisions
Beer and wine, when I left the supermarket the heavens opened. waited till it slakened and made my last 15 min trip to the campsite. The weather got wetter and I ended up soaked as I could not be bothered to put on waterproofs.
Arrived like a drowned rat, the capsite owner gave me some paper towel to dry myself.

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Pitched tent waited for rain to stop and had my meal and an early night.

Distance travelled on the first day 260 miles

[barnhatter]

Day 2 4/9/11
Les Andelys to Cognac-la-foret west of Limoges

Good nights sleep and a view from the campsite

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And looking down the river to the towns bridge

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The weather was mixed and bike clothes were still soaked.
Put up with the uncomfort, had breakfast and off I went getting slowly dryer as I went.
The weather this day was mixed and not wanting to get caught again I kept stopping to put on my waterproofs.
The object of the day was to get further south as I wanted to get to the Spanish boarder the following day and also stop at the Town of Oradour-sur-Glane.
The townfolk were all killed by a German Division accused of hiding the resistance.
The Men were rounded up and shot the women and children taken to the Church, locked inside and burnt. The Germans had just returned from the Eastern front. The commander who authorised this died a very short time so was never brought to justice. the village was left as it was as a memorial.

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The village had a strange feeling to it, I have been to Auschwitz a few times but this effected me more, possibly because it was exactly as it was with abandoned cars.
A very quiet atmosphere around the ruined town.
After a couple of hours I was off to my next campsite at Cognac-sur-Floret.



Distance travelled today 289 miles 549 so far on the trip.

[howlingmoon]

Looks like you had a great start to your trip if a little wet ! Top pics also. Keep it up ,looking forward to part 2.

[Selous]

Good ride report so far mate.

Mate a few questions,

1 what is / was your planned route?

2 can you put up the links to the campsites you stayed at please, as Im going to Spain,
next year, just looking at alternate routes.

[Jim Lovell]

Great barnhatter, I've never been to Oradour-sur-glane from your photo's it looks like an amazing place, full of great sadness. I guess its the kind of place if sitting quietly the voices of the children playing and people living can be imagined..

Oradour-sur-glane is on my list of places to visit!! Thanks for your write up, excellent, looking forward to the next installment ..

[john_aero]

looks great, stick up your route so i can ro it next yearB)

[barnhatter]

DAY 3 5/9/11
Cognac-la-foret west of Limoges to Otasagabia into Spain.

The day started well warm and sunny
Rode down throught the Bordeaux region past the vinyards.

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On checking my gear as I was riding, I tend to look as I go to make sure that nothing gets loose, I noticed that the rack was looking at a strange angle. Stopped and looked closer saw that one of the supports holding it on had cracked, Too much weight what with me homemade topbox and tent, so to prevent further damage I moved the tent onto the seat on front of the rack. It all appeared okay so continued towards the Pyrenees

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I was heading to the Larru pass on the D26 and was quite looking forward to the views and ride into Spain.

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The weather changed that started to get a bit of light rain, then heavy then as I climbed up the pass very wet mist, visibility down to 20-30 feet, This was no fun.
At the top it was bleak, cold and wet

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Once over the top it started to improve fast, so the rain in spain stay on the plane.
Looking good as it heated up.

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Soon got to the campsite the ground was very dry and weather now sunny

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Found a spot, pitched my tent and had a couple of beers. Looked at my rack and it did not look too bad providing it did not get worse, changed what I carried to take out the heavier things though. Now time for food curry and rice for dinner with a nice bottle of wine to drink. As it was warm up to later I could sit outside, read my book and finish the wine. To be honest life does not get much better.
The temperature dropped a bit overnight but got too Spain which I failed 2 years ago as the pass I was going to use was closed at the top.

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Mileage today was 290 miles 839 in total.

[special one]

Looks a good trip mate, i was over there from the 1st september to the 10th, we went down through annecy and through the mountain passes that normally accomodate the ski community, we got to within 40 miles of Cannes.

I'll post my trip up as ive posted it on another forum so its only a quick copy and paste job.

[Paul]

Great trip so far, looking forward to more, Paul.

[BIG BILL]

Fantastic pic's keep em coming.

BIG BILL