Podcasts and Vodcasts

This is a link to some of the Podcasts and Vodcasts that I have put together recently from events and training sessions around Unitec New Zealand. You can download the episodes to ITunes / your IPod to listen and watch, or you can click on the menu beside the player on the site to select an episode and watch it there.

 

Sunday 30th September (Day 74): Vitré to Combourg ( 86 km)

Finally woke to a dry tent which cheered John up no end and helped alleviate his ever increasing snotiness (caused by a cold). There was a high wind that scattered acorns and conkers on our tent, and sometimes our heads and we were a little wary – turned out that it was another following wind though!

We cycled into Vitré and had a look around. What an awesome place; tiny medieval streets, a huge chateau and myriad other little features and adornments that make the place fascinating. Set off pedalling on a route that would have been fairly challenging if the wind was not blowing in the right direction.

We’ve seen the soil rocks change from limestone, to chalk, to slate, and now it is a mixture of granite and sandstone (which affects the look of the houses and walls, giving everything a slightly greyer, more angular look). Brittany houses tend to be solid, square and pragmatic with less florid gardens. There is still an incredible attractiveness about the place though, and some of the churches are incredible.

 

Saturday 29th September (Day 73): Grez Neuville to Vitré (90 km)

Didn’t sleep very well last night. Loads of things thundering around in my head now that the end of the trip looms…have to start thinking about things such as making a living!!

Went down to a lovely breakfast served by our gracious hosts. We were joined about half way through by this fascinating couple from Berlin. They now have a small lifestyle block about 60km outside of Pottsdam, but previously he was from East Germany and she from the West. They told us about their lives at the time around the wall was built, as well as talking about their professions (he was a physicist in the area of R&D around the effects of welding on various materials and joints). It was all fascinating and we prolonged breakfast until nearly 10am chatting with them.

Today’s cycling was in warm sunshing with, at long last, a following wind. Undulating roads wound around and through ancient farmland peppered with manor houses, chateaux, and impressive looking farm estates. Also passed through an area famous for its horses, especially thoroughbreds, and have been treated to a fine display of equines. Le Lion de Angers had a huge race course – nearly cycled into several passing cars as I gaped at the set up there while pedalling past.

A slight miscalculation meant that we did 90km today but it was not too bad due to the friendly breeze and the glorious day. Spoke to Linda last night – am really looking forward to seeing friends and family again.

 

It’s all over ….

We have arrived at St Malo and the end of the trip. We were wondering how to measure such a trip as kilometers just don’t seem descriptive enough. Here are some of the alternatives we came up with:

4000 kms
7 countries
1 Polish haircut (very short)
573 cakes
147 mosquito bites
4 snake sightings
8 major rivers
4 punctures
4 spokes
3 Romanian hunnies rollerblading in bikinis (i nearly fell off my bike)
1 foot massage
36 rainy days
75 days in total
50 days in the saddle
1 great journey ….

 

Friday 28th September (Day 72): Saumur to Grez Neuville (70 km)

Woke at 8.30 which meant a bit of a slow but very relaxed start. We’d done most of the packing the day before, and, to our pleasant surprise, the sky was blue – although there was a brisk breeze in our faces as we set off! Said goodbye to the splendid proprietor of the hotel and set off along the river, both of us celebrating how good our legs felt after a rest.

As we cycled along we got to thinking about some of the people we’ve met along the way, some that are truly inspirational. For example, Bruce, the 81 year old Canadian who regularly cycle tours around Italy, France, Spain and Germany with some friends. He was in Saumur on holiday with his daughter and son-in-law, and they had just spent the day cycling 40 odd kms around the vineyards. He looked as fresh as a daisy!! Today we also met an English couple, he a keen cycling enthusiast (60 to 65+), with hiswife who, after 40 years had just decided that cycling wasn’t so bad after all! He was chuffed to bits, and they both looked incredibly happy and fit.

The cycling today took us out of the more touristy regions of the Loire and toward places where huge sand banks stretch along the river, often lined with great flocks of migrating birds. The villages are tucked in at the base of sheer chalky walls for some of this route, often with caves burrowed into the rock.

After lunch we said our goodbyes to the Loire and headed north; still into a rolicking head wind. Passed through some delightful rolling farmland full of stone mansions, working farms and late flowers. Skirted Angers as big cities are a nightmare to navigate and despite the wind, thoroughly enjoyed the undulating road and surroundings.

The day was made extra peachy by our first adventure into staying at gites (avoided until now because of our awful French). John bravely rang the bell and our gracious host and hostess were patient, kind, and very helpful. The house is an old mansion, and has gorgeous gardens…one of the best places we stayed: La CROIX d’ ÉTAIN (http://www.anjou-et-loire.com/croix ; Jacqueline & Auguste BAHUAUD; 2 Rue de l’écluse – F – 49220 GREZ NEUVILLETel. : +33 (o) 241 956 849 – fax : +33 (o) 241 180 272; croix.etain@anjou-et-loire.com).

 

Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th, and Thursday 27th September (Day 69, 70 and 71): Saumur

John found a gorgeous hotel for us to stay in to celebrqte our 15th wedding anniversary: Hotel Saint Pierre (Rue Haute Saint-Pierre – 49400 SAUMUR – Tél : 02 41 50 33 00 – Fax : 02 41 50 38 68; http://www.saintpierresaumur.com/; e-mail: contact@saintpierresaumur.com). It’s a family owned place, and is a renovated house so we have a huge fire place in the room which is just oozing with character.

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed some R&R in preparation for our final leg up to Saint Malo where we are catching the ferry to Portsmouth on 3rd of October.

 

Tuesday 25th September (Day 69): Savonnières to Saumur (70 km)

A gift of a day, we started in sunshine (enough to dry the tent). The route headed off just up the way from the campsite, and we set off in good spirits even when we turned the corner and hit the – yup – you guessed it – head wind. Another blinder. We stopped for a cake break on the steps of an attractive little church and relaxed in the sun. Must say that the cakes in France are superlative. Our waistlines are suffering!!!

Following the cycle route we then headed away from the Cher (yes, John did all the jokes and the singing) and the Indre, back to the Loire. Next was a 14 percent climb (which we managed to cycle up) followed by an 18 percent climb – which we pushed our bikes up. Yes, both of these are indeed on the official cycle route. Gorgeous view from the top; crap decent into Saumur.

 

Monday 24th September (Day 68): Chaumont to Savonnières (105 km)

The sun rose on a real autumn day with a blustery wind blowing the leaves across the campsite and grey clouds etched by the sun. It was chilly but not really cold – bracing – and there was the smell of wood smoke and freshness in the air.

We managed to get out by 10am including getting fuel for the stove. First we climbed the hill out of the town then turned the corner into the howling head wind. It was going to be a somewhat challenging day! We actually changed direction 3 times, and each time the wind remained in our faces. Initially we had 20km across a plateau with little to shelter us. We then headed off on our detour to detour Tours, and were peeved when we ended up doing a detour of the detour as a brand new (ie no cars yet) road had been built across some of the little roads we were planning to use.

Lunch was not picturesque – eaten by a large grain storage barn so that we were able to shelter from the wind and the rain, it wasn’t our best to date

There were high points to the day though such as cycling over the brow of a hill to see an incredible cloud scape towering above us, or passing through what was obviously very old oak forest.

Great campsite at Savonnières though with an uninterrupted view of the river. Had a glass while watching the sun set.

 

Sunday 23rd September (Day 67): Beaugency to Chaumont (68 km)

Slept really well until 9am – what a luxury! By the time we had packed, loaded and bought pastries for the day it was already 11.30. It was, however, q gentle autumn day with clouds, mild sunshine, and a glorious head wind (hurrah for the head wind). By the time we had cycled through narrow lanes, past the towering edifice of one of the nuclear power stations, and onto the levee beside the river we were really enjoying the day.

Lunch was taken on a rather elegant bench overlooking the Chateau Chambord with its collection of ornate, lofty chimneys perched on grey-tiled towers. All is supported on a huge white stone edifice (shown in one of the pictures on this Blog). Amazing, especially as it was such a folly. The surrounding parkland is partially a wildlife reserve and is open to the public; Great for walking and cycling. After our picnic we headed off toward Chiteau and ‘made it up’, bowling along forest roads surrounded by the sound of falling acorns.

We pedalled into Chaumont, and because John had an infected gnat bite we decided to call it a day. We popped the tent up in the pretty camp site beside the river qnd then mooched up the hill to see the local chateau and the splendid view from the top.

 

Saturday 22nd September (Day 66): Chateau Neuf Sur Loire to Beaugency (66 km)

Threatening clouds fulfilled their promise half way through packing up this morning. We faffed about changing our gear, and then changing it again as the rain became harder. We finally set off at 10am.

There was intially pleasant cycling along the levee alongside the river. The trees have gone past autumnal russets to dark browns and many are totally leafless. The smell of late autumn is everywhere, and now, instead of harvesters, there are tractors ploughing.

We followed the somewhat confusing and annoying Loire Valley Cycle Route for the first part of the day. It’s a route full of surprises – sometimes you can be bowling along and suddenly the route ends – no warning. Or there’s a bridge missing (and there may or may not be diversion signs!), or the surface disintegrates so much that it is actually easier to cycle on the grass. On the whole though, the concept and the opportunities it will offer are excellent.

As the rain came down and we skirted the numerous potholes on the path John sang a medley of rain themed songs. Even when I begged and pointed out that it was in fact raining all the harder, he continued to warble…by the end of it I was howling with laughter!

We cycled into Orleans (made easy by following the cycle route) and were lucky to stumble across the Festival of the Loire. It was perfectly timed for lunch so we stopped and sampled the many gorgeous cheeses, and filled up on hot food. We met with further encouragement for our endeavours, and left with wishes that all our hills be down from hereon in.

We cycled on through Meung-sur-Loire (scenic and with an engaging town centre complete will little, steep, cobbled streets). I was feeling a bit under the weather so we just cycled on to Beaugency where we booked into the expensive, but very helpful, L’Ecu de Bretagne. Had an awesome meal at a little restaurant in town and discovered the joys of the set menu. Strolled back through the medieval streets and enjoyed the lights reflected in the rain laced cobbles.