French C2C first meeting Thurs 13 Oct 2011

Maldwyn, Peter, Shawn, Martin and Clyde met this evening at the Flowerpot to discuss some initial details of next year's ride. It will probably be late May/early June, midweek to midweek, avoiding bank holidays, and last 7 days. The idea is to start on the Atlantic coast, possibly at La Dune du Pilat (at 107 m, the tallest dune in Europe) and, riding the Mios to Bazas greenway, followed by minor roads to Castets en Dorthe, we will ride the towpaths of the Garonne Canal and the Canal du Midi, stopping at (approximately) Castets, Agen, Toulouse, the wonderful canal basin of Castelnaudary, the fairy-tale city of Carcassonne, Béziers and Sète on the Mediterranean. Distance is about 560 km. There is a lot to see and sample on this ride, including the famous three-way circular lock at Agde, the aqueduct at Agen and the delicious cassoulet of the Lauragais region and perhaps a glass of Noilly Prat at Marseillan. And our route takes us right through a motorway service station!
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dune_of_Pyla
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=68
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=17
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=240
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=188
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=197
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=5
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=6
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=26
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=39
http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=280

A proposal for the 2012 Dragon Ride

Clyde has proposed that we do the French equivalent of the C2C (Coast to Coast). In brief, this would be on a Greenway from the Bassin d'Arcachon (Atlantic coast, not too far from La Rochelle) to the Garonne Canal, then along the canal to Toulouse, finally following the Canal du Midi to Sete on the Mediterranean Coast.  Clyde reports that he has 2 booklets on the route, including places to stay, assuming a start from Bordeaux (via two different routes). There is a third way, in many ways more obvious, starting from the Atlantic: a greenway from Mios to just before Bazas (76 km)

http://www.af3v.org/-Fiche-VVV-.html?voie=17

 There is an extension to this, taking the rider to Roaillan. Then it's only a few km by minor road to Langon and Castets en Dorthe, where the Canal de Garonne begins. Almost all the rest is by towpath.

When Clyde is back in GB a meeting will be held on a suitable Thursday evening in the Flower Pot pub in Derby to assess demand for this ride and to consider any other suggestions. Please watch this blog for an announcement from Clyde.

Day 7

Maldwyn and Clyde took the straightforward road to Sligo, the N15, while the others took the official cycleroute (part of the North-west Trail). This proved to be quite arduous for, although there were no serious hills, we were riding into a relentless headwind for most of the journey. This beautiful mountain is Benbulben, seen shortly before Sligo. Other pics: our bikes on the train to Dublin; O'Connell's statue, Dublin; the Spire of Dublin, O'Connell Street; Ryanair HQ, Dublin Airport.

Day 6

Some pictures of Donegal, at the end of today's ride: monument in the town center; harbor.

Day 5

Only a short ride today, to a brand new, purpose-built An Óige hostel, Errigal, also in County Donegal. Just as well: it rained much of the time and we were riding into the wind a lot. Photo-opportunity somewhere on the road, before the rain, and a picture of the Errigal mountain, after the rain.

Day 4

A political relic from the twentieth century and cannon from the seventeenth century, defending the city of Derry. We saw this loco on the Foyle Valley Railway as we left Derry on NCR92. This sandy bay was at Downies on the Rosghuill peninsular, where we had a wonderful meal with a glass of wine. Finally, our hostel for the night, a building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and donated to An Óige (Irish equivalent of the YHA), situated in a remote and windswept corner of the north Donegal coast.

Day 3

Day 3 was when three of us got punctures, riding on the pavement into Coleraine, next to a recently clipped hawthorn hedge. But we didn't mind because earlier in the day we had visited the Bushmills distillery and were suitably fortified! This beautiful seascape is on the north Antrim coast. The Peace Bridge across the Foyle is not quite ready.