Well I had myself a really nice relaxing morning, little lay in, and got up and ready in my own time no rush and set off on my way just after 10:30.

After 10 miles or so I came to a place called Rochefort, it had this really nice bridge that had lots of people running and cycling over. I had to take a picture as I’ve got one sad mate that likes bridges, not naming names (Navin) this one was for you.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago about the rule of keeping your mouth shut so bugs cant fly in, well also a lot of bugs and flying insects have flown into me hitting my cheeks and my arms and chest. Today I had a Bee fly directly into my sunglasses! made a massive noise and I doubt he would’ve been fit for Saturday.

I got a rare add to the list of road kill today, as horrible as it sounds, I’m almost looking for different species now as I’ve set myself the challenge. Now as you know the rules are that it has to be intact and fresh. Today I saw a Fox, and also which after a lengthy google search I can confirm a Racoon!

Now I always have it in my head that’ll stop for some lunch or food after a couple of hours riding. I set the sat nav screen up so I just see map view, and my odometer I have set on the time. This way you don’t get to see how many miles it is to go, as I found out in the first few days that can hurt looking down and seeing 50 miles still to go. So about 1 o’clock I flicked through the menu to see how far I had to go and I had coasted to 16 miles to go without even pushing it. So instead of taking it easy like I said I would today as it was such a short journey, I saw my average miles per hour was pretty good and better than what I had achieved back on day 1. So I opted not to stop but to push on and get here in quick time. Setting a new PB for the trip so far with 14.47 mph average speed.

When I arrived in Saintes I thought I would go for a little walk, big mistake! What I thought would be a little walk turned into being about 5 miles! Not the sort of thing I really wanted after a bike ride and long few days ahead of me. Remind me never to do that again. But i did get to see a couple of Cathedrals and a nice river. Also had what I assume was a local wedding drive by me, there must have been a convoy of about 20-30 cars all beeping there horns following the newly weds down the street. I was gutted not to get a little video, well guess what, 5 minutes later they came back up the same street so I filmed away for you all to see.

Had to get a snap of me with this Avis people carrier, first one I’ve seen on my travels!

I know your all probe thinking why is there a picture of a toe! Well I was walking back from the supermarket and stubbed it on this rock, grazed all the top and even showing signs of a bit of claret! Hopefully nothing that’s going to effect my nice ride into Bordeaux tomorrow.

Today’s journey was 40.93 miles, riding time of 2:49:44, max speed 26 mph, avg speed 14.47 mph, 2372 calories, 3 litres so far.

Wedding Drive By

Pretty much a very similar thing happened like yesterday, I had set off at a good time and then within first mile or so I had photo taken. It was with Napoleon himself and the city was once called Napoleon Sur Yon and built for Napoleon I. The monsieur that I asked to take the photo joked and went to run away with it, which I didn’t see coming, a Frenchman with a sense of humor!

I bought this amazing loaf of Brioche yesterday for breakfast today and lunch. It was amazing, so good in fact that I’ve bought it again for breaky tomorrow swell as a tub of jam! mmmm, I love jam!

I was quite far into my ride today when I was cruising past some fields with barrels of hay staggered everywhere. Now after working with my dad for so long, you pick up his skills for spotting a bit of wildlife where others would fail and miss out on. Perched up on top of a barrel of hay about 20 foot away from me was a Kite. That’s a bird for those of you that don’t know. So I stopped and went to get my camera out, it wasn’t moving and was happy enough to stay and pose. When a farmer and his tractor decided to start up and move in the field opposite! It was like the moment in Ace Ventura Pet Detective when he is trying to catch the White Dove and the mascot pushes it out the way. I missed the moment to take the picture as the Kite took to the sky. Damn tractor man!

I could tell I was getting closer and closer to a holiday destination as I saw more and more English number plates the closer I got to La Rochelle. This is actually the closest I have stayed to the coastline since I left 10 days ago and I really noticed the sea breeze coming in and making it harder to pedal into. What was nice however was the massive sprinklers they have hear watering the fields, every now and then when they spray over the way your riding you get a nice mist to cool you down.

I’m actually staying just outside of La Rochelle in a place called Angoulins. Its a nice little town with a really cool water feature in the main square next to the church, I took a photo of this for anyone interested. Also had to add the photo of me at the beach as I hear the weather at home is a little stormy! Although from looking at google maps I didn’t think it would be that much of a walk, about 45 minutes later I was there, and thats not really the sort of thing I had planned to do after a 60 mile ride!

At one point today I thought sat nav was trying to stitch me up, it took me down this farmers road (pic below) and although it was a shorter route, it wasn’t the way I would have liked to go!

Some more rules to let you know that I have made up over the last few days, Rule 3, Never go one handed to wipe your face or wiggle your numb hand when a massive arctic lorry whizz’s past! Rule 4, Keep your mouth shut when going fast, bugs seem to find there way in like its a homing beacon!

Today’s journey was 59.2 miles, riding time of 4:20:50, max speed 27.3 mph, avg speed 13.62 mph, 3318 calories, 3 litres so far.

I took the first few miles through Nantes very slowly today as I knew I didn’t have many miles to do in total. As I got near the river and had to cross over a couple of bridges I went past a big battle ship docked in the river. Also the other side of the bridge I came across the worlds biggest Elephant! I have googled it and it happens to be from the Machines of the isle of Nantes, basically there is a little Island in the middle of Nantes and this Elephant was built to promote Nantes as a place that deals with fantasy. The Elephant can carry 49 passengers on a 45 tour of the city. Pretty impressive if you ask me. As I was leaving they were making it spit water out of its trunk!

I found another field of sunflowers! I didn’t let you down this time and stopped to take a snap. Prizes for the closest guess!? That was only half the field though, I couldn’t get far enough away to get the whole lot in.

I’ve just been to my savior of a shop again Decathlon, picked up some more handlebar tape and wrapped that around to maybe try and help my hand out a bit more.

Looks like I’m going to have to settle for the golden arches tonight, there isn’t much this place has to offer in the means of restaurants. Big mac meal and some nuggets it is then.

Just been trying to upload another video of today’s ride, but it wasn’t sunny enough to capture the roads that were in the shadows. So its not being put up. Hopefully some nice weather tomorrow and ill put a little 10 mile video up then.

I’m going to be up early tomorrow and on my way, want to have a big rest up in La Rochelle as have Friday off. Before a big 13 days on the trot until my next rest!

Pigeon is added to the list of road kill!

Today’s journey was 44.7 miles, riding time of 3:19, max speed 27.5 mph, avg speed 13.47 mph, 2538 calories, 3 litres so far.

Evening all. Not a lot to report on today I’m afraid. Well which is good in a way for me as it means there’s been no problems or hiccups! But as for reading up on how I’m getting on, today hasn’t been as eventful as the start of the trip. Popped into the supermarket this morning to pick up lunch, then set off at around half 10. Nice casual ride for the first 29 miles until I fancies some lunch. Found my way through a mixture of google maps route and the sat nav. Used the sat nav to get me into the center of town and find the hotel. Just met a bunch of young lads from Bath who are staying in the rooms next door to mine, they have been riding back up to St Malo from La Rochelle, but only done 4 days riding and they then got on the train today. Chatted to them about what the ride is like down to La Rochelle, the said it was very scenic.

I’ve seen some lovely scenes today though myself, none that were good enough to make the cut for the blog but I’m feeling like there could be tomorrow! So hold out for that.
However I would like to add that the weather today has been amazing! Not a cloud in the sky, lets hope that’s with me till the end now, fingers crossed.

When I got here, which was pretty early, guess about 2:30. I showered and changed and jumped back on the bike and headed to my savior of a shop Decathlon. Here I picked up some spare chain links just in case mine decides to pop out again.

Seeing as this is going to be a pretty short update, I thought id take the chance to show you all the extent of the damage to my left hand. The pic shows me trying to bring all my fingers together. They should both look like the hand on the right. I just hope this isn’t a long term thing? Any doctors out there got any advice?

Today’s journey was 46.36 miles, riding time of 3:36:30, max speed 31.1 mph, avg speed 12.85 mph, 2693 calories, 3.5 litres so far.

Had some dinner at the Wood Cafe earlier, there wasn’t much choice as it was the only place around, literally! Luckily they had an English Menu so as you can see I opted for the mixed grill equivalent. Had a slab of Ostrich, some Bison, a spicy sausage and a rib. Went down a right treat! Off to Rennes in the morning, just a little 50 mile ride, so gonna take it nice and easy.

At one point today I didn’t think there would be much to tell you about. I couldn’t have been more wrong if I had tried. 10 miles into the ride, I’m going at the slowest pace I think I have been all week. My saddle sores are wanting me to stop, my knee is wanting me to stop and looking on the horizon and seeing hill after hill, even I wanted to stop. My knee was the bigger problem, It has a sharp shooting pain right on the kneecap with every downward push. And this is only 10 miles in. Anyway i decide to stop at the top of one of bigger climbs I did, and to prove how up and down today was, I’ve added the graph of elevation that the sat nav produces. Look at the section with a 40 minute climb!
So after lunch I get going and start to forget about most of the problems that effected the start. These hills by the way were continuous for miles, straight up and down like a roller-coaster but without the cogs pulling you up the inclines!

Everything seemed to be going ok, when all of a sudden I go to change gear (yes another hill was approaching) and my chain breaks! Now I got told before I came away to pick up a couple of spare chain links. I was going to until someone told me that a decent chain has at least 10,000 miles life span. How I wish I hadn’t listened to them! I didn’t panic at first as didn’t know how big a problem it could be. I realised it was the chain link that was missing. I walk back down the road as I had only coasted 10 yards, and like looking for a needle in a haystack I find not one half but both halves of the chain link! I snap them back in place and off I go again. I did however make a quick call to Tony again, as I wanted to know if this should happen and whether you do just snap it shut again. He said I wouldn’t have been able to carry on if I hadn’t of found the links! You might all think that’s being a bit over the top, but its true, a chain is useless without this link. So I decided to take it steady for the rest of the day.

Also noticed today that only a few of the French cyclists going in the opposite direction say hello. Some don’t even acknowledge the fact that your there! Very rude!

Not many interesting photos today, I’ve taken this photo of the corn field as every time I ride past one I think of the scene in Jurassic Park when the Veloceraptors chase the people through them. Anyway just thought id share that with you. And the pic of the sign to Avranches doesn’t truly do the hill any justice, you’ll have to trust me on the fact is was very very long!

Today’s journey was 76.2 miles, riding time of 6:34:26, max speed 35.4 mph, avg speed 11.6 mph, 4298 calories, 3.65 litres so far.

Evening, although I doubt many of you will be checking up on me tonight seeing as it is a Saturday. But for me its just another day in the saddle. Checked the weather last night and it said it was going to be overcast but windy. They also said that it wasn’t going to be just a breeze but 13mph winds. Which just so happened to be in my face pretty much the whole way. Set off at 9, which is my earliest leave so far this trip (hoping to beat that tomorrow), and had to stop within the first mile or so to take this picture of these two towers painted to look like waterfalls. These towers are everywhere in the countryside and I’m not sure what they are for, so if you know then feel free to share the knowledge.
After a couple of hours riding a convoy of cars went past, and being as you get to see many a car go past you often look out for the English ones. Today there was 4 in a row and all with number plates of H14GUE, and H16GUE. Now as I don’t have much to occupy my mind during the day I’ve had it down that William Hague is over in France on business or something.

Then had to stop to go to the loo, don’t worry it wasn’t what your all thinking! So as most of you cyclists know, you just stay on the bike and pull over by the side of the road. Made the silly mistake today of not watching where I was going, yep you guessed it, all on my handle bars, lucky enough it was on the drop bars!

Nearly made the mistake of not stopping at a supermarket to pick up a sardine for lunch, I pulled over but couldn’t find anywhere to lock my bike up, so I set off again, and one thing you always think about for the next mile or so is “should I have stopped”, but then at the top of the hill was an old petrol garage not in use anymore, but a couple selling sandwiches. A French family pulled in behind me and then the dad of the family came over and started checking out the wheels, so I used all the lingo I could and told him all what I was doing. They said they were in fact also going to La Roche Sur-Yon and asked if I wanted a lift!

I need to add a couple of Animals to the road kill stats, today I saw a hedgehog, and I also saw what I think was a ferret. But then again if dad was here he would probably say it was a stoat!

Also there isn’t a better feeling than when you pull up at the destination for the day, know that all the hard work was worth it!

I thought i should include some photos of me today just so that you know that I am in fact here and not just making all this up!

Today’s journey was 80.4 miles, riding time of 6:14:24, max speed 33.41 mph, avg speed 12.88 mph, 4567 calories, 2.15 litres so far.

Today has been a good day, I do feel like I could have got here a bit quicker, but hopefully, with tomorrow being a few less miles, I might get to Avranches ahead of schedule.

Had to take a snap of this place, was walking down the road on my way to get myself a pizza, and I stumbled across this little establishment. So thought why not! The place was rammed! Treated myself to a chicken burger (I pronounced it Fillet de Poulet) the woman behind the counter looked at me all puzzled so I just said chicken burger please. See even when I do try and talk the lingo I still struggle. Oh and also through half a dozen nuggets on top for good measure. Now just watching a film UP, with 2 chocolate deserts, some chocolate milk and nachos! Remember to all keep a look out for me over the weekend, as I’m looking to put about 150 miles in.