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Tjs recovery ride 5...
 

Tjs recovery ride 5. The low countries and France

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Awesome stuff!

Your set up looks very similar to mine back in 2003, London to Munich, with the Bob.

Jealous.


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 3:58 pm
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Now a belayed first lunch of bread cheese and nectarines.

How much further before you can find a roadside crepe?


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 4:21 pm
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How much further before you can find a roadside crepe?

Or roadside moules from a producteur. The one we found (somewhere near Cancale) would sell us moules + wine, but could not do chips - pick them up from next door and bring them back they said. The chip van was next door - presumably getting a chippy license is harder than alcohol sales, being France 🙂


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 4:34 pm
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One of those weird coincidences. A chap i know from Leith was on the same campsite last night. Small world

He had run all that way to get away from you and still you [s]stalked[/s] bumped into him.


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 4:38 pm
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He had run all that way to get away from you

Must be about ooh, 500 miles...

(lol, it actually is near enough bob on 500 miles from Leith to Le Touquet according to Google Maps walking directions. How's that for a coincidence?)


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 5:02 pm
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😀

Found a campsite. Now need to work out where i am

Edit. Disappointingly close to last night. Again eurovelo is loads longer than direct route. I may have to rethink my strategy. Thevroutes are nice tho

Im.about 20 miles south of le Tourquet


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 5:46 pm
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Now need to work out where i am

In a campsite.
HtH


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 5:51 pm
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I too am thoroughly enjoying this thread

I keep hearing these lyrics as I read it tho


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 6:05 pm
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Again eurovelo is loads longer than direct route. I may have to rethink my strategy. Thevroutes are nice tho

Bear in mind that most roads in France are much quieter than UK roads so you don't need to avoid them as much. I think if you stick to D roads (département roads) then you will probably get somewhere whilst having a good time.


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 8:23 pm
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Pmsl at littlest Hobo.

I think we're all vicariously going on a tour out of jealousy...


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 8:46 pm
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I agree with Molegrips, D roads are usually really nice the surface can be a bit variable mind.

I did Normandy, Brittany and down to the Loire on a touring bike and sometimes would not see another vehicle for 15 minutes (like Northumberland).
There were plenty of villages with enough shops/markets for baguettes, tomatoes & cheese or bars for Frites & Omelette and the odd lunchtime beer. I did use campsites though as I need a shower before slipping into a sleeping bag.


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 9:32 pm
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Ta. I think I will do that . Getting pissed off at the wiggly and slow eurovelo

Still first week from Amsterdam and i am a quarter of the way there with 4 more weeks. I have a boil on the bum however which is a pain. Literally 🙄

Day off needed. Today was day 7 of riding. Wednesday weather looks pish so i might hole up.in a hotel for 2 nights tuesday and Wednesday.

My little bit of french is working. Tonight the woman on the campsite had no English


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 9:48 pm
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We've only cycled in touristy places, but I think the drivers we've encountered have been generally more considerate of cyclists in France than their UK bretheren. Bon route! 🙂


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 9:56 pm
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Must be about ooh, 500 miles…

Is he a Proclaimer?

I'm currently hearing this


 
Posted : 15/08/2022 10:22 pm
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It just rained!

Decisions made I think. Another day or two on eurovelo then i can pick up a greenway heading south. Todays ride is awfully wiggly but looks really nice

I might well hole up in a hotel for a couple of days.

Ill try to take more pics for you all.


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 9:01 am
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I might well hole up in a hotel for a couple of days.

Sounds wise and comfy in your position.


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 9:09 am
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Good job, you're a nurse, a boil on the bum is no laughing matter. Especially when cycling.


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 10:22 am
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tj re route finding for d roads, have a look at cycletravel. I've used it as a route finder loads, its generally very good and it works in Europe. Perfect for the d roads.
You can enter where you want to be tonight, next week or even the final destination of your journey. It should then send you the most direct way avoiding as many busy roads and steep hills as possible. It mostly manages the busy road bit, not so much the hills!
You need to use common sense in big cities though as it can get a bit around the houses.
It can also be used to spot campsites that might be near your stopping point for that night.
Apologies if you knew about this already, I'm really enjoying following your wanderings, hope the arse bears up!


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 10:50 am
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Ta. Thats helpful

Im finding i need to use several different websites to find good routes. Each one does something different

Just started to spot with rain. Far too hot to wear waterproofs


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 10:55 am
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Some fine aged goats cheese for lunch and a rather delicious raspberry tart


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 1:04 pm
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Warm and wet ideal conditions for an old school cycling cape


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 1:20 pm
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Holed up in a hotel fi on the edge of Dieppe. Not a great place for a rest day.

Ill see what i feel like in the morning.

Good miles today on a mix of eurovelo and map reading


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 9:10 pm
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Yeh,I always imagined Dieppe as Middlesbrough on Frog.


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 10:30 pm
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Well it's twinned with Brighton! Take that how you like.


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 10:58 pm
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Well it’s twinned with Brighton! Take that how you like.

So what you're saying is TJ will have a choice of great restaurants and bijou coffee shops for dinner and breakfast?

There are some great charcuterie and boulangeries in the middle of Dieppe by the marina/port, and worth a trip from the outskirts


 
Posted : 16/08/2022 11:23 pm
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You must try the Calvados in Normandy !!


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 12:34 am
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I have decided to stay a second night here evennif its a crappy hotel F1

Yesterday was funny. I went to check into the ibis in the centre. No rooms there but they very helpfully booked me into the hotel F1 2 miles out of town and not really what i wanted. They where being so helpfull that itcwas hard to say no and maybe they thought all other hotels were full.

Next adventure is to get my clothes washed. There is a launderette nearby. Wish me luck!


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 9:04 am
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You must try the Calvados in Normandy if you need paintstripper for some odd reason

FTFY


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 9:05 am
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Pics from yesterday
https://i.postimg.cc/brywW1NM/20220816-110852.jp g" alt="" />


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 9:07 am
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Once again one of the pics does not show


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 9:08 am
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So.... how's yer bahookie?

Once again one of the pics does not show

I think there is now a limit on the number of links/embedded photos per post now


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 4:32 pm
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Any news on tjs boil yet?Has it been lanced?Perhaps giving it a name will help matters.


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 4:47 pm
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Boily Macboilface it is


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 4:53 pm
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The boil has burst which is good news. Somehow I suspect you dont want pictures.

Spent part of the day wandering around Dieppe and part of it sleeping.

Dieppe is gearing up for the 80th anniversary of the raid on 19 August. Lots of Canadian flags


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 6:39 pm
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OMG Boily Macboilface. Genuine laughing hysterically.
I mis-read that TJ was wandering around Dieppe and part of it 'seeping' , as in the boil.


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 7:02 pm
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🤣🙄


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 7:06 pm
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😅


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 7:45 pm
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80th anniversary of the raid on 19 August.

One of my great uncles was involved. When his dementia was bad he relived it, it was not a good experience. RIP Uncle Alf.


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 8:56 pm
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@tjagain - ignore slowol and do try the Calvados but a nice one, not the cheap crap stuff

Also, you can get some amazing dark rum in France as they still have very strong links to the Caribbean islands. Any good bar/restaurant will have it. Usually from small batch island producers.


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 9:07 pm
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No idea how I've missed this thread so far, but a fantastic and fascinating tale already.


 
Posted : 17/08/2022 10:01 pm
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Well TJ at least you have provided some with a laugh at your boil (oh I really hope it's OK from now) Bunnyhop you’re a bad girl for thinking he had seeping 😉

Sandwich I hope your uncle Alf had a peaceful end as I can only imagine the horrors he witnessed at Dieppe.

My grandfather on my fathers side survived the war as a Tank radio operator and never spoke about it. I can’t begin to understand what it must have been like to see friends “boiling up”


 
Posted : 18/08/2022 12:47 am
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Back on the road this morning refreshed and rested. Gonna try back roads i think rather than the eurovelo. Lets see if i can get some good miles in.

Much cooler today but the skys are clear.


 
Posted : 18/08/2022 8:06 am
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I can only imagine the horrors he witnessed at Dieppe.

Imagine TJ home surgerying a boil on his arse outside a tent, and then add some?


 
Posted : 18/08/2022 8:13 am
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Please, I've just had breakfast! 🤢


 
Posted : 18/08/2022 9:01 am
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Imagine TJ home surgerying a boil on his arse outside a tent, and then add some?

A biffins bridge too far


 
Posted : 18/08/2022 9:04 am
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