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.