I spent three weeks riding a loop around western Europe, taking in 6 countries over 2,800 miles.
The first stretch was up through France, pretty much due north from Toulouse up to Cherbourg for the high speed ferry to Poole. Whilst this looked feasible in one day, it was going to be a long day's ride, and I fancied being able to see something other than Autoroutes and so broke the trip up with a couple of overnight stops on the way.
Google maps of the route link.
Day one covered Toulouse up to B on the map, and was mostly Autoroutes unfortunately as I left a little later than planned.
The first stop, at "B" was a great little B&B "The Loire Affair" (link). The owners had family staying that weekend, so the B&B wasn't available - however the kindly let me use the gite for no additional cost.
The satnav had a little fun finding the place, however, and I ended up in the 'wrong' farmyard. Luckily the owner knew where I was aiming for, and despite a bit of a language barrier gave me directions to cut across a couple of farm tracks (with a warning to mind out for her husband and his tractor). Farm track, my arse. It was a couple of miles across a field and a dirt track - luckily Beaky was up for it, and everything was dry so the road tyres coped!
The gite itself was great, and would make a nice little get away in the country.
Saturday morning and I was off early for the next leg. A little more relaxed as less of the journey was on autoroutes, but I did want to make sure I stopped at Le Mans since I was so close.
My satnav took me right into the centre of the town of Le Mans, and whilst I wanted to have a look around I needed to be sure I had time for the racing circuit, so headed back out towards the track.
There is a museum of the 24hr race here at the entrance to the circuit, and well worth a visit.
I think the Aston Martin had to be my favourite, if not the mini.
For a few Euros I could buy a track pass that allowed me to walk around the stands - alas the track itself was closed as a Porsche group had it booked (and yes, had I been able to I would have taken a fully-laden GS around!). It was getting pretty hot in the sun, and I didn't really fancy walking too far just to see empty stands, so returned to the museum.
A souvenir sticker for Beaky was a must, then whilst I grabbed a cup of coffee in the little cafe and looked at the leaflet on the circuit I realised something interesting...most of the 24hr race is on the public roads around the track...
I finished up my coffee, suited up and pointed Beaky in the direction of the road section. The first section that is on public roads is a looooong straight, broken up by two chicanes (*not* open to the public...). It's strange to see all the armco and race fittings around on what is otherwise a normal road. At the first corner I came to (Virage du Mulsanne) the real road goes up to a roundabout, with the track braking off just before to cut the corner off. Following the track on through the forest I came up to lots of painted signs and sandtraps showing the track taking a sharp right....luckily I spotted the small "stop" sign that I had to obey as I was turning right onto a different road!
After a few hundread metres the track peels off into the circuit area, and I followed the road back to the museum, before bouncing up onto the pavement for a cheeky photo op of Beaky in front of the circuit entrance.
I then decided to go around again...and get some photos this time!
Enough playing...time to head into town and look around. Some lovely old buildings in the centre.
See that little window...the fellow below was in there.
I left Le Mans and headed onward, stopping for a quick detour into Felaise when I saw who once lived there - William the Conqueror. Alas no time to visit properly, so maybe next time.
The stop for the night was at Le Clos Castel near Raids (link). Again, very friendly owners, Steve spent several hours chatting to me over a few beers telling me of the WW2 events in the area which included the farm itself being heavily shelled.
Sunday morning, and off to the late-morning ferry. A nice relaxed hour up to Cherbourg, with more and more UK registration plates on cars along the way as I got closer.
The sneaksy bikeses get loaded on first into special frames on the floor that stop everything sliding around once at sea, and with Beaky safely stored I found a seat, bought a newspaper and a coffee and settled in for the crossing.
Once in Poole, it was a quick passport check then straight onto the 'right' side of the road (not the wrong side...) and a blast through the Dorset countryside via Dorchester to get home to Mum's. Not bad for the first 750-odd miles.
More later :)
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