Bitumen is Best!
France Stage 12 – Blain to Malestroit 67 Km (Thu 21 June 2018)
Weather: 12⁰C min – 23⁰C max, mostly cloudy
“No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.” ~ Unknown
Breakfast at the B&B in Saint-Omer was an experience, sitting with three other cyclists who spoke no English. Aided by the hostess Dominique’s limited translational services, I was able to follow some of the conversation, but mostly I just laughed when the others laughed and nodded when I thought that was the appropriate response. Every now and then I would slip in a few words of French, such as passez le pain s’il vous plait or merci beaucoup.
Feeling a bit awkward, I was the first to leave the table and was on my bike by 9:15 am headed for Malestroit. After yesterday’s boring experience riding on a dirt track beside the Nantes à Brest canal, I designed a new route last night which is not only 8 Km shorter but directed me on car-free bitumen roads all the way.
More importantly, though, I got to see the things I enjoy most in France: charming villages, quaint houses of character, brightly coloured flowers, woods and meadows, cows and horses grazing on lush green pastures, genuinely free-range chickens, and le canard (oops sorry I mean ducks).
After starting off overcast, the clouds had cleared by about 11 am turning into a nice sunny, but cool, day. Not only was it more pleasant for riding, but sunshine means better photographs.
At the 24 Km point I came to the lovely little town of Fégréac where I stopped for a coffee then went to an Artisan Boulanger for a bread roll and pastries to eat along the way.
One thing I have noticed is that all the roads in France, no matter how minor, are all sealed and of a high standard. A scenic ride on bitumen roads sure beats riding on a dirt track with nothing to look at but a muddy canal. How glad I am that I changed my route to avoid the Nantes à Brest canal!
Fantastic photos always even when the weather is poor
What fabulous photos – so scenic from colourful flowers to beautiful houses and countryside. Enticing to want to go there!
France is very scenic and I love the little villages and flowers everywhere (encouraged by France’s “ville fleurie” initiative). But if I had to choose between France and Italy I would vote for Italy, particularly Puglia. Say hi to the gang for me. I hope it is not too cold and wet in Sydney for riding.
Hi, this kind of worries me. I’d like to do the small track with 3 kids, age between 6-10 yrs old. I chose this part of the velodysees as it has most of the track without cars…. can I use your GPS route for the same, but then less boring?
thanks for any advise
If you are comfortable with riding on roads (low traffic) and don’t mind some ascents then use the routes I created because they are more scenic, passing through nice countryside and villages. If you are looking for absolute safety then use La Vélodyssée, but I found it boring riding along beside a dirty canal. Also it is mainly compacted dirt.