Thankfully, my lovely wife Lynn allows me to have these adventures. This time the plan was to cycle La Vélo Francette from the Channel ferry port of Ouistreham (near Caen) to La Rochelle, halfway down the French Atlantic coast and then continue on the southern half of La Vélodyssée to Biarritz. Getting home would then be by budget airline with my bike in a box. (Biarritz airport’s website assured me that a suitable bike box could be purchased at the airport – and they were correct).
The beauty of these long-distance cycle routes is that a significant proportion is off-road and traffic free. I planned to do up to 120km per day with shorter days further south anticipating it getting warmer as I progressed (but actually from Day 2 onwards!)
A key influencer then encouraged me to seek sponsorship for the charities I am involved with – HoverAid and Harnhill Centre of Christian Healing.
How did it go? In summary:
- At least 1100km in 13 days (I made a couple of navigational errors so it was a bit further)
- Temperatures mainly between 33 and 40 degrees C
- Start cycling – before 7am to make the most of cooler temperaturs
- No punctures
- 3 ferry crossings (English Channel, La Seudre and La Gironde)
- 13 campsites
- Lots of conversations with French, Dutch, Swiss, Macedonian and others
- Restaurant meals – one, in La Rochelle. I like to save these experiences to share with my wife
- New food discovery – a tin of Cassoulet Toulousain – essentially very posh baked beans and sausages but French cuisine style. Seemingly quite filling and nutricious.
- Number of pain aux raisins consumed – I’m afraid I can’t divulge this information
- Unusual experience – watching the World Cup Semi-final between France and Spain on a big screen at a French campsite on the Spanish border). You will recall that Spain won!
- Most useless piece of kit that I carried – a waterproof!
Thanks to all those who supported me and encouraged me, for your prayers, good wishes and for your sponsorship – I know both charities are hugely grateful for your support. It was a great experience and worthwhile in terms of sponsorship raising over £1500 across the two separate sponsorship appeals – thank you.
Steve Hayler
You can still donate to Steve’s fundraiser here
