The Loire a Velo was great, despite the odd hiccup on the way. Weather good, scenery superb with much use of off-road or little used public roads, accommodation comfortable (even at Possonniere), food mostly excellent and, of course, exemplary company. I also appreciated the accuracy of the navigation particularly through city streets.
It may be a bit early to think of England 2015 (but I can't resist) and it occurred to me that there may be some value in finding an area unfamiliar to us, staying at one location and doing a number of circular rides. This has the advantages that, in inclement weather (wot!! In England?), we could cut short the ride or even take to the buses/trains, we could travel lighter and maybe there would be some economies of scale.
Monday, 2 June 2014
Friday, 23 May 2014
Ride Leaders
To confirm - Clyde will be leading Thursday to La Poisonniere and I will lead to Nantes.
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Ride Leaders
Only a few days before we hit the saddle!
I am happy to lead the ride on Tuesday Blois to Tours.
Update
Just re-read the blog, is Martin leading the ride to Tours?
If so, it looks like Thursday and Fridays rides are between Clyde and me. What day are you proposing to do Clyde?
Update
Just re-read the blog, is Martin leading the ride to Tours?
If so, it looks like Thursday and Fridays rides are between Clyde and me. What day are you proposing to do Clyde?
Refreshment on Sunday 25th at Orleans.
Martin and Clyde arrive into Orleans in the afternoon, then I should get into the main station at 19:32 followed by Shawn and Maldwyn at 20:19. I shall have had a meal early afternoon on the Eurostar but will need some sustenance before bedtime. Is there a chance for a late evening get together, perhaps somewhere twixt station and F1? If not, I shall probably get "Le Sandwich" before I leave Paris.
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Blois - Tours route notes
Blois - Tours notes
Map 1
Leave Blois by stone bridge.
Right on to cycle path by river alongside D751.
Under steel bridge (at roundabout) and then immediately cross main road to follow cycle path.
Map 2
After ~ 3km path turns left away from river and then continues to run alongside D751, crossing to other side after ~50m.
~1.6km to Chailles entry sign.
Map 3
Path appears to continue across parkland, behind the houses on main road, and joins Rue de la Vallee at right turn after ~700m.
Cross Rue de la Varenne after ~500m.
After ~600m follow road to left then after further ~150 turn right (Velo signed Amboise).
Cross Rue des Prés after ~500m into Grange Cazin.
Map 4
After ~800m left at stop sign into Rue de la Loire, then right after ~50m into Rue de l’Aumóne (Velo sign).
After ~300m the Velo route appears to be straight on, ignoring the left fork (Rue des Châtaigniers) that becomes a dirt track, and also avoids a short section of D751 through Candé-sur-Beuvron .
Map 5
Continue along Rue de l’Aumóne for ~2.5km to cross-roads. Turn right into Rue de la Bordé.
First left after ~300m into Rue des Robinettes (Velo sign). Then after ~400m, with church on left, follow road to right down to Rue du Château and left into Candé-sur-Beuvron. After ~100m use small stone bridge over river (Le Beuvron). Right on to cycle track beside river.
After ~1km the Beuvron joins the Loire. Another ~1km and a barrier to motor traffic, plus an Ambroise 25km Velo sign.
Map 6
The path goes through a camping site and under the D1 bridge over the river, and a Amboise 22, Blois 21 Velo sign.
Map 7
At Chaumont-sur-Loire the path is alongside the D751 for ~1.5km. The path then crosses the road and around woodland for ~3km before rejoining at Rilly-sur-Loire. Right, back along the D751 for a few metres and follow the Amboise 17 Velo sign to the left.
Map 8
After ~2km left turn and the path crosses back over the D751 (at the Indre-et-Loire Department boundary, note: the March 2010 Google Street View shows yellow “Itineraire Provisoire” Velo signs hereabouts(temporary or diversionary?) that may have changed since).
Cross D751 and follow Route des Montils for ~2km and cross D123 (yellow Velo signs).
Map 9
Continue on Route des Montils for ~3km, after crossing a drainage ditch and a small stream the same road changes to Rue de la Salandière. After another ~1km cross D80 (yellow Velo sign) into Rue de la Résistance. After ~1km fork left (just after start of vineyards, signed St. Régal, plus Velo signs).
Map 10
After ~1km cross Rue de la Forgetrie into Rue des Tétes Noires. After ~1km (at water tower) right turn into Rue des Blaisies (actually looks like same road). Second left after ~400m into Rue du Saule and then left after ~200m into Rue de la République.
Map 11
After ~600m cross Bd Saint-Denis Hors (D31), on a bridge, into Rue des Fauchelleries, which becomes Rue des Chaumieres. ~200m after Amboise entry sign we can either follow the Velo route through a maze of on way streets or turn right down Rue de Bel air direct to the river. This would, however, mean ~1km along the D751. Plenty of shops along the waterfront. Good place for a picnic?
The Velo route goes under the stone bridge and alongside the river.
Maps 12 - 22
Since the rest of the journey to Tours is mainly off road, I will trust copies of the Velo maps (and it’s getting late) to get us to our destination. Conveniently, the route drops us off at the end of Route des Deux Lions on our way to the F1.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Ride Leading and maps - France 2014.
As I have the bookings for Orleans and Blois I am happy to volunteer to lead Monday's ride from Hotel to Hotel (with a diversion to see the Chateau at Chambord). I had intended to use the mapometer links provided some time ago by Clyde but they don't work any more for me. Do you know if they expire over time, Clyde? I can probably use Michelin maps, or those provided on the Loire a Velo site or the Eurovelo 6 website. We have proposed Martin as leader into Tours, following his (very) detailed analysis of possible safe routes to the F1. Any other volunteers?
Friday, 9 May 2014
Some new distances
Here is an update of the distances of our trip. I have not taken the precise locations of our hostelries in Orleans, Tours, Blois or Nantes into account, but I thought our places near Saumur and Angers were sufficiently different from what we had originally that corrections were necessary.
| Orléans - Blois | 68 | 68 |
| Blois - Tours | 67 | 135 |
| Tours - Domaine de la Brèche | 75 | 210 |
| Domaine de la Brèche - La Possonière | 83 | 293 |
| La Possonière - Nantes | 87 | 380 |
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Tours Sud F1
Previous experience of F1 hotels suggests their locations can be elusive. Tours Sud is no exception. Their website positions the F1 on a motorway slip road. In fact it is on a completely different road, protected from the motorway by two, very high, wire-mesh fences.
Tours Sud F1 is about 7 km from the river, off a main arterial road (Avenue du Grand Sud) and close to an Auchan complex. However this road also appears to act as a feeder to the A10 motorway, with several entry and exit roads that would have to be crossed. Not very cycle friendly.
An alternative, more suburban, route is possible from the Pont du Lac at the southern edge of the city centre. This leaves Pont du Lac on a cycle track along Rue de l'Auberdière to a roundabout. Then first right on to a cycleway, protected by a no entry sign. Keeping left at every turn and through a gap between a stream (Le Petit Cher) and a lake (Lac de la Bergeonnerie) for about 200m, to Avenue Marcel Dassault. Right turn along cycle path for 100m and left at a roundabout to Rue des Deux Lions for about 500m. Left and then immediately right at T junctions to Rue due Tailhar for about 1 km. Left under a main road bridge (and beside a railway line) to a roundabout. First right up to the main road (cycle track) and over the railway and a minor road and then immediately right through a gap in the hedge (by a big roundabout sign) to drop down into a housing estate and right on Rue de Candé. Left to Rue d'Amboise. Left at roundabout to Rue de Chambord. Straight on at next roundabout to Rue de la Marchanderie. Continue straight on into Rue Guillaume Louis. Straight on at next roundabout. Just before next roundabout take cycle track on left, over first junction and on up hill alongside the main road, Rue Philippe Maupas. This goes over the motorway, on a narrow pavement, and then drops down to a pedestrian crossing - and into the F1 site. This alternative route is about 8 km from the river at Pont Wilson.
Incidentally, Tours also has a new tram system, so another chance to admire Alstom's centre conductor rail.
Tours Sud F1 is about 7 km from the river, off a main arterial road (Avenue du Grand Sud) and close to an Auchan complex. However this road also appears to act as a feeder to the A10 motorway, with several entry and exit roads that would have to be crossed. Not very cycle friendly.
An alternative, more suburban, route is possible from the Pont du Lac at the southern edge of the city centre. This leaves Pont du Lac on a cycle track along Rue de l'Auberdière to a roundabout. Then first right on to a cycleway, protected by a no entry sign. Keeping left at every turn and through a gap between a stream (Le Petit Cher) and a lake (Lac de la Bergeonnerie) for about 200m, to Avenue Marcel Dassault. Right turn along cycle path for 100m and left at a roundabout to Rue des Deux Lions for about 500m. Left and then immediately right at T junctions to Rue due Tailhar for about 1 km. Left under a main road bridge (and beside a railway line) to a roundabout. First right up to the main road (cycle track) and over the railway and a minor road and then immediately right through a gap in the hedge (by a big roundabout sign) to drop down into a housing estate and right on Rue de Candé. Left to Rue d'Amboise. Left at roundabout to Rue de Chambord. Straight on at next roundabout to Rue de la Marchanderie. Continue straight on into Rue Guillaume Louis. Straight on at next roundabout. Just before next roundabout take cycle track on left, over first junction and on up hill alongside the main road, Rue Philippe Maupas. This goes over the motorway, on a narrow pavement, and then drops down to a pedestrian crossing - and into the F1 site. This alternative route is about 8 km from the river at Pont Wilson.
Incidentally, Tours also has a new tram system, so another chance to admire Alstom's centre conductor rail.
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Orleans Railway Stations to La Chapelle St Mesmin
The simplest way to our F1 is to head for the river and follow it westwards.
Orleans main (terminal) railway station is hemmed in to the west and south by busy roads. However there is a series of pedestrian crossings to the south leading to Boulevard de Verdun, with a helpful, but tiny, green "Vers La Loire à Vèlo" sign. This joins Rue de la Rèpublique, a semi-pedestrianised street with trams running down the centre. There are several No Entry signs, presumably to restrict traffic, but Street Google shows people cycling and there are bicycle stands. Follow the tramlines to the second stop De Gaulle and then, where the tramlines turn left, take the right fork along Rue du
Cheval Rouge. This leads to a pedestrian crossing across the quayside road (D2152) and on to a cycle/pavement. Follow the path, under Pont Maréchal Joffre, to the distinctive Pont de l'Europe. Here the route becomes more rural, see photos, but it does seem to be continuous. Just before the A71/E9 motorway bridge there is an alleyway that goes back up to the D2152 and across a pedestrian crossing to a friendly Buffalo, see photo. The red sign in the distance, below the traffic light, is for a Grill Courtepaille, another photo, with the F1 sign just beyond.
Those of a nervous disposition may consider that at night the main road is safer than an unlit tree lined path alongside a river. In which case rejoin the D2152 at Pont de l'Europe and follow it round to the left at the next main road junction (on to Avenue Georges Clemenceau). Street Google shows the hint of what may be a cycle lane on the righthand side of this section of the road. Look out for the Buffalo.
An alternative route is to follow part of the tramline towards La Chapelle St Mesmin. The De Gaulle tram stop is the interchange point between the north-south Line A from the railway stations and the east-west Line B to La Chapelle St Mesmin. Follow the tramlines west from De Gaulle along Rue des Carmes, Rue Porte Madeleine and Rue du Faubourg Madeleine to the point the lines take a sharp right turn up hill. Continue straight ahead to come out at the road junction on the D2152, the one just beyond Pont de l'Europe.
Incidentally, Line B loops round to a point (on Avenue Gegorges Pompidou) just a couple of hundred metres from the Buffalo grill. At €3 for a return journey into the city centre it is a good enough reason not to eat there. In the city centre Line B also has an interesting centre rail pick up system, formed of alternate 8m energiseable sections separated by 3m neutral sections. The 8m sections are only energised when a 32m tram is over them - according to Alstom.
Clyde, I will meet you at Orleans des Aubrais station. There will probably be less traffic to the east of the lines between des Aubrais and the terminal station, so we could either head for the route to the river from the main station or aim for a pavement cycle route further east that goes direct to the river.
Orleans main (terminal) railway station is hemmed in to the west and south by busy roads. However there is a series of pedestrian crossings to the south leading to Boulevard de Verdun, with a helpful, but tiny, green "Vers La Loire à Vèlo" sign. This joins Rue de la Rèpublique, a semi-pedestrianised street with trams running down the centre. There are several No Entry signs, presumably to restrict traffic, but Street Google shows people cycling and there are bicycle stands. Follow the tramlines to the second stop De Gaulle and then, where the tramlines turn left, take the right fork along Rue du
Cheval Rouge. This leads to a pedestrian crossing across the quayside road (D2152) and on to a cycle/pavement. Follow the path, under Pont Maréchal Joffre, to the distinctive Pont de l'Europe. Here the route becomes more rural, see photos, but it does seem to be continuous. Just before the A71/E9 motorway bridge there is an alleyway that goes back up to the D2152 and across a pedestrian crossing to a friendly Buffalo, see photo. The red sign in the distance, below the traffic light, is for a Grill Courtepaille, another photo, with the F1 sign just beyond.
Those of a nervous disposition may consider that at night the main road is safer than an unlit tree lined path alongside a river. In which case rejoin the D2152 at Pont de l'Europe and follow it round to the left at the next main road junction (on to Avenue Georges Clemenceau). Street Google shows the hint of what may be a cycle lane on the righthand side of this section of the road. Look out for the Buffalo.
An alternative route is to follow part of the tramline towards La Chapelle St Mesmin. The De Gaulle tram stop is the interchange point between the north-south Line A from the railway stations and the east-west Line B to La Chapelle St Mesmin. Follow the tramlines west from De Gaulle along Rue des Carmes, Rue Porte Madeleine and Rue du Faubourg Madeleine to the point the lines take a sharp right turn up hill. Continue straight ahead to come out at the road junction on the D2152, the one just beyond Pont de l'Europe.
Incidentally, Line B loops round to a point (on Avenue Gegorges Pompidou) just a couple of hundred metres from the Buffalo grill. At €3 for a return journey into the city centre it is a good enough reason not to eat there. In the city centre Line B also has an interesting centre rail pick up system, formed of alternate 8m energiseable sections separated by 3m neutral sections. The 8m sections are only energised when a 32m tram is over them - according to Alstom.
Clyde, I will meet you at Orleans des Aubrais station. There will probably be less traffic to the east of the lines between des Aubrais and the terminal station, so we could either head for the route to the river from the main station or aim for a pavement cycle route further east that goes direct to the river.
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Canal de Nantes à Brest - next ride in France?
Pictures all from the canal, near La Chevallerais, between Nantes and Rennes. The canal towpath forms part of the Vélodyssée (from the border with Spain to Roscoff, Brittany), which in turn is part of Eurovelo Route 1.
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Some details
On Thursday, I rode to Saint-Astier railway station to buy all my train tickets. Northbound, it's Saint-Astier - Périgueux - Limoges - Orléans les Aubrais. From there to the La-Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin Formule 1 it's 6.6 km by bicycle. Homeward bound, it'll be Nantes - La Rochelle - Bordeaux - Saint-Astier. Annoyingly, I must put my bike in a bag for just one Intercité train: Limoges - Orléans.
I have also sent a deposit of 33 euros to Alex, whose boat we will be staying in at La Possonnière, and I have reserved a table for 5 at a Guinguette (traditional French riverside restaurant) at La Possonnière for that evening.
I have also sent a deposit of 33 euros to Alex, whose boat we will be staying in at La Possonnière, and I have reserved a table for 5 at a Guinguette (traditional French riverside restaurant) at La Possonnière for that evening.
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
The 2014 Tour - a summary
Sunday 25th May.
We all arrive at Orleans gare at differing times and from various origins. Martin, Clyde and I have accommodation at the F1 Hotel, La Chapelle St, Mesmin (which I take to be a district of Orleans) - booked by me. I understand from other posts that Maldwyn and Shawn might be staying at the same hotel.
Monday 26th May.
We follow the Loire cycle route to Blois where (at the moment) we are booked into the Hotel du Bellay (by me). Clyde is endeavouring to confirm that the 5 bedded room I have booked does indeed contain 5 separate beds and not some unacceptable combination of doubles and singles.
I will see if I can find suitable watering holes en route and will do my best to locate the Hotel on arrival in Blois.
Tuesday 27th May.
We proceed to Tours, where Maldwyn has booked 3 rooms at the Hotel F1 Tours Sud.
Wednesday 28th May.
On to Saumur, where we have a mobile home (not too mobile, I hope!) booked by Shawn. There is a swimming pool and some of us have fluffy towels.
Thursday 29th May.
We are bound for a barge on the Loire, allegedly at La Poisonniere-Port, arranged by Clyde.
Friday 30th May.
Last day!!. All of us should arrive in Nantes and then Maldwyn and Shawn head off to La Rochelle for an eventual flight home. Martin has booked the 3 remaining members of the tour into a Youth Hostel (converted from a Tobacco factory, apparently so maybe we will spend the evening hand-rolling Havanas.)
Saturday 31st May.
Clyde disappears into the French hinterland and Martin and I go back to UK courtesy of SNCF, Eurostar and East Midlands Trains. I suspect I will join Martin on the 12:00 from Nantes and the 17:13 from Gare du Nord.
We all arrive at Orleans gare at differing times and from various origins. Martin, Clyde and I have accommodation at the F1 Hotel, La Chapelle St, Mesmin (which I take to be a district of Orleans) - booked by me. I understand from other posts that Maldwyn and Shawn might be staying at the same hotel.
Monday 26th May.
We follow the Loire cycle route to Blois where (at the moment) we are booked into the Hotel du Bellay (by me). Clyde is endeavouring to confirm that the 5 bedded room I have booked does indeed contain 5 separate beds and not some unacceptable combination of doubles and singles.
I will see if I can find suitable watering holes en route and will do my best to locate the Hotel on arrival in Blois.
Tuesday 27th May.
We proceed to Tours, where Maldwyn has booked 3 rooms at the Hotel F1 Tours Sud.
Wednesday 28th May.
On to Saumur, where we have a mobile home (not too mobile, I hope!) booked by Shawn. There is a swimming pool and some of us have fluffy towels.
Thursday 29th May.
We are bound for a barge on the Loire, allegedly at La Poisonniere-Port, arranged by Clyde.
Friday 30th May.
Last day!!. All of us should arrive in Nantes and then Maldwyn and Shawn head off to La Rochelle for an eventual flight home. Martin has booked the 3 remaining members of the tour into a Youth Hostel (converted from a Tobacco factory, apparently so maybe we will spend the evening hand-rolling Havanas.)
Saturday 31st May.
Clyde disappears into the French hinterland and Martin and I go back to UK courtesy of SNCF, Eurostar and East Midlands Trains. I suspect I will join Martin on the 12:00 from Nantes and the 17:13 from Gare du Nord.
Martin's Journey
Sunday 25 May: 13.27 Paris Austerlitz - Orleans arr. 14.32
Saturday 31 May 12.00 Nantes - Paris Montparnasse arr. 14.27
Saturday 31 May 17.13 Paris- St. Pancras arr. 18.30
3 beds booked in 4 bed room at Nantes youth hostel (500m, or so, to the station)
Saturday 31 May 12.00 Nantes - Paris Montparnasse arr. 14.27
Saturday 31 May 17.13 Paris- St. Pancras arr. 18.30
3 beds booked in 4 bed room at Nantes youth hostel (500m, or so, to the station)
Monday, 31 March 2014
Orleans Accommodation Plan
As we will all being starting out from Orleans on monday morning is anyone looking into accommodation for Sunday night? Are Malydwyn and I making our own arrangements as we are arriving late? What travel plans do Clyde,Pete and Martin have for arrival in Orleans on sunday. Maldwyn I can look into hotels in the vicinity of the Railway station as the nearest F1 is over 4km away.
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Dates of Birth Please ! Saumur Accomodation
To book the eurocamp mobile home at Saumur I will need everyone's DOB's !
Moment of truth I know but if you can post it as a comment or if you prefer email me if you rather it not be in the public domain!
Please can you do it this sunday if possible so that I can book the bigger van at the preferred price.
Moment of truth I know but if you can post it as a comment or if you prefer email me if you rather it not be in the public domain!
Please can you do it this sunday if possible so that I can book the bigger van at the preferred price.
linen or for Saumur please
Can all confirm sheets, yes or no for mobile home in Saumur. I will then book this weekend. Pete I have noticed your request.
Friday, 28 March 2014
Flights/Trains
Shawn, I will now book my flights for Sunday and the following Saturday. Probably easier if we book our own train journeys as well, for Sunday & return on Saturday.
Hotel du Bellay, Blois, France
A 5 bed room (en suite) has been booked at the above for Monday 26th May. The cost is £15 each excluding breakfast - a continental breakfast is available 08:00 to 10:00 but I have no details of cost. The hotel is about 1km from the Loire and fairly near the Gare if Shawn and Maldwyn elect to join us there instead of Orleans. Arrival time is limited to 17:00 to 21:00 unless special arrangements are made and I have said tentatively that we will book in at 19:00. We can always find a restaurant first, if need be.
Angers or La Possonière
I had hoped to avoid this town, but what seems to be one of the best deals that I could find is Ethic-Etapes, Lac de Maine, right in the heart of Angers. I've provisionally booked 5 bunk beds in 2 rooms, at 23 euros each, including breakfast. Click here for the website. On the other hand, I have also been offered 5 beds in one room on a Loire barge, for 22 euros each, including breakfast! It's at La Possonière-Port, right on the route, west of Bouchemaine and well placed for setting off on the last leg of our journey. Click here for details of this. A minus point is that we cannot board until 20:00. I suppose the boat is actually sailing on the river till then! We could have our supper in the village while waiting to board - the guy has just told me there is a restaurant there, but we must book early. (Maybe if we asked nicely, the captain could take us to Nantes the next day - I've heard that some Dragon riders are not averse to cadging lifts!) Let me know which you prefer.
Trains Orleans/Blois - Hotel Tours
Shawn, I have been having a look at trains from Tours to Orleans on Sunday -
The Flight arrives at Tours at 17.20. It is about 4.5 mile ride to Tours station and we could catch the 19.03 to Orleans with gets in at 20.19. The cost is £17.50. We would then be able to do the full ride.
Alternatively flying out on the Monday(15.30 - 17.50) and catching the 19.03 at Tours and arriving at Blois at 19.39. Cost £9.50
Shawn your Thoughts?
All
F1 Hotel at Tours (F1 Tours South) around £25 for twin room per night. I think it about 4/5km from our route - comments?
The Flight arrives at Tours at 17.20. It is about 4.5 mile ride to Tours station and we could catch the 19.03 to Orleans with gets in at 20.19. The cost is £17.50. We would then be able to do the full ride.
Alternatively flying out on the Monday(15.30 - 17.50) and catching the 19.03 at Tours and arriving at Blois at 19.39. Cost £9.50
Shawn your Thoughts?
All
F1 Hotel at Tours (F1 Tours South) around £25 for twin room per night. I think it about 4/5km from our route - comments?
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Mobile Home accommodation near Saumur for £60 total!
Domaine de la Breche (2nd result on page) - Mobile Home sleeps 5
One idea for accommodation approximately 5km Tours side of Saumur(so is not in town) is this Eurocamp special at only £60 for 1 night. Its very easy to book online. Only problem might be only has blankets so pack own sleeping bag liner or hire. Nice swimming pool and other facilities.
http://www.eurocamp.co.uk/book/bookonline/searchResults.cfm
Comments? I am happy to book if acceptable.
One idea for accommodation approximately 5km Tours side of Saumur(so is not in town) is this Eurocamp special at only £60 for 1 night. Its very easy to book online. Only problem might be only has blankets so pack own sleeping bag liner or hire. Nice swimming pool and other facilities.
http://www.eurocamp.co.uk/book/bookonline/searchResults.cfm
Comments? I am happy to book if acceptable.
Garmin Route Plan - Tours to Blois
Just playing with this tool so this is in beta mode. Hopefully I can plot each days ride on the garmin connect website then upload to my trusty Garmin to help us navigate each day. Please feel free to comment on the start/end points, chosen route etc.I can edit each days route and update as appropriate. The illustrated route lets us visit 3 chateaus in one day Amboise, Chaumont and of course Blois.
If we want to take it in turns to lead each day as previously,then when we have accommodation sorted we can nominate days for leading.
Garmin Connect - Tours to Blois
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Booking schedule
How does this look? Maldwyn, if you are doing Tours for you and Shawn for Sunday, you could maybe do it again for the Tuesday? I've taken on two and Peter has two. Is that OK?
Sun
|
25 May
|
|
Mon
|
26 May
|
|
Tues
|
27 May
|
|
Wed
|
28 May
|
Saumur: all (
|
Thur
|
29 May
|
La Possonière: all (
|
Fri
|
30 May
|
Nantes: Martin, Peter, Clyde (Martin); La Rochelle: Shawn, Maldwyn
(Shawn)
|
Just to repeat from elsewhere, I've sent a blanket email to loads of places in the Bouchemaine region, including one that Peter found. I await the replies!
New table of distances
Here you go!
| Orléans - Blois | 68 | 68 |
| Blois - Tours | 67 | 135 |
| Tours - Saumur | 85 | 220 |
| Saumur - Bouchemaine | 55 | 275 |
| Bouchemaine - Nantes | 97 | 372 |
Accomodation near Angers for Thursday 29th May
Here are two possibles:
http://lecloschevalier.info/
This is at St Jean des Mauvrets, south of the Loire and a little east of Angers.
http://www.le-bosquet.com/
This is nearer Angers and our likely route and is at Les Ponts-de-Ce.
Both are in French (quel surprise) so perhaps Clyde has the skill to interpret and make a decision (if one or both are suitable).
http://lecloschevalier.info/
This is at St Jean des Mauvrets, south of the Loire and a little east of Angers.
http://www.le-bosquet.com/
This is nearer Angers and our likely route and is at Les Ponts-de-Ce.
Both are in French (quel surprise) so perhaps Clyde has the skill to interpret and make a decision (if one or both are suitable).
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Possible French travel arrangements.
A quick check of domestic timetables for Sun 25th May reveals that it will be nigh impossible to get to London much before mid day so I shall probably stop over Saturday night with my daughter in Tower Hamlets. I could be in Paris for say 3pm local time and there are regular trains either to Orleans (about 1 hour journey) or Nantes (about 2 1/4 hours) from one terminus or another. In conclusion, I can be in Orleans or Nantes by Sunday night, 25th May ready for a start on the Monday. Similarly, I can get back from either town in a day. Maldwyn, it will depend on your final choice of ferry as to which way we go.
Monday, 24 March 2014
Reversed itineraries
Here is a new possible itinerary:
| Orléans - Blois | 68 | 68 |
| Blois - Tours | 67 | 135 |
| Tours - Saumur | 85 | 220 |
| Saumur - Chalonnes | 84 | 304 |
| Chalonnes - Nantes | 78 | 382 |
Chalonnes is not very important, so we might be lucky to find anything there, but who knows! Angers is much more important but provides us with a long ride on the last day ):
| Orléans - Blois | 68 | 68 |
| Blois - Tours | 67 | 135 |
| Tours - Saumur | 85 | 220 |
| Saumur - Bouchemaine | 65 | 285 |
| Bouchemaine - Nantes | 97 | 382 |
Notes: (1) I haven't found a way of reversing the Mapometer maps.
(2) I've used Bouchemaine which is close to Angers, but we would need to add on a few km extra. But it is do-able, isn't it? And, given that we'll have a place to stay at Nantes, it doesn't really matter what time we get there.
(3) The total distance has gone up! This is because my earlier Mapometer map for Blois to Orléans used main roads instead of the correct Loire à Vélo cycle route (I was getting tired by that point and I decided to take a short-cut!) Expect the real thing to come to over 400 km!
(2) I've used Bouchemaine which is close to Angers, but we would need to add on a few km extra. But it is do-able, isn't it? And, given that we'll have a place to stay at Nantes, it doesn't really matter what time we get there.
(3) The total distance has gone up! This is because my earlier Mapometer map for Blois to Orléans used main roads instead of the correct Loire à Vélo cycle route (I was getting tired by that point and I decided to take a short-cut!) Expect the real thing to come to over 400 km!
Musée du Campagnnage, Tours
Click here for the link to that museum in Tours that I mentioned. Well worth a visit if we have time. I thought it was amazing!
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Je regret, mais France est fermee!!
As promised I went to London yesterday to visit the French Tourist Office to see if I could get any details of accommodation for the Loire valley. They used to have a large facility on Regent St, south of Piccadilly but have now moved to a set of offices in High Holborn. Although it still says on the website that the public may visit between 10am and 4pm this is in fact no longer the case and I came away empty handed. I did take the opportunity to have lunch with my daughter who works in Moorgate so all was not lost.
Monday, 20 January 2014
Possible itineraries our consideration
Some of you must have wondered why I went to the trouble of plotting the route on Mapometer. It is to be able to easily compute distances between any places of your choosing. This is possible because Mapometer plots every km along the route (or 5km - I'm not sure how it decides which; it varies from map to map). Using these maps, I quickly came up with three possible itineraries, although there will be others:
| Nantes - Chalonnes | 78 | 78 |
| Chalonnes - Saumur | 84 | 162 |
| Saumur - Tours | 85 | 247 |
| Tours - Blois | 67 | 314 |
| Blois - Orléans | 57 | 371 |
| Or | ||
| Nantes - Montjean | 68 | 68 |
| Montjean - Gennes | 78 | 146 |
| Gennes - Langeais | 70 | 216 |
| Langeais - Chaumont | 78 | 294 |
| Chaumont - Orléans | 76 | 370 |
| Or | ||
| Nantes - Bouchemaine | 97 | 97 |
| Bouchemaine - Saumur | 65 | 162 |
| Saumur - Villandry | 64 | 226 |
| Villandry - Candé | 73 | 299 |
| Candé - Orléans | 71 | 370 |
Collectors please note! Some facts about the route Nantes to Orléans
Over the route, we shall be passing through the following départements:
Loire-Atlantique (44)
Maine-et-Loire (49)
Indre-et-Loire (37)
Loir*-et-Cher (41)
Loiret (45)
We shall pedal through two régions:
Pays-de-la-Loire
Centre
And we shall see 5 chef-lieux (county towns), all on the River Loire:
Nantes
Angers
Tours
Blois
Orléans
We've done 49, Pays-de-la-Loire and Angers before, but the rest are new!
*Note the missing e. This is a different river: le Loir, not La Loire, altho we don't get to see it.
Loire-Atlantique (44)
Maine-et-Loire (49)
Indre-et-Loire (37)
Loir*-et-Cher (41)
Loiret (45)
We shall pedal through two régions:
Pays-de-la-Loire
Centre
And we shall see 5 chef-lieux (county towns), all on the River Loire:
Nantes
Angers
Tours
Blois
Orléans
We've done 49, Pays-de-la-Loire and Angers before, but the rest are new!
*Note the missing e. This is a different river: le Loir, not La Loire, altho we don't get to see it.
Friday, 3 January 2014
Jan/Feb Meeting
Happy New Year!
Re: Jan/Feb meeting. I will be Skiing from the 5th to 12th Jan and in Burma from the 8th Feb to 23rd Feb. Any time outside of these dates, if possible, would be good. I have also been coerced into dancing lessons on a Thursday evening, so Thursday's could be difficult - sorry to be pain.
Maldwyn
Re: Jan/Feb meeting. I will be Skiing from the 5th to 12th Jan and in Burma from the 8th Feb to 23rd Feb. Any time outside of these dates, if possible, would be good. I have also been coerced into dancing lessons on a Thursday evening, so Thursday's could be difficult - sorry to be pain.
Maldwyn
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