France in September

[bigjim]

Anybody mad enough to join me?
It’s my intention in September to fly to Paris and then ride down to Toulouse before flying back to the UK.
I’m estimating about 10 days for 500miles. I will be taking camping gear and will hopefully mix up camping with the odd night in a small hotel or B&B. Will also consider no camping at all.
I’m not in a great rush and will therefore average about 50 to 60 mile days. I will avoid Paris itself completely. I’m not a city lover and will be happy mooching around small towns or villages after a day on the bike. I’m not fussy with food so will have a basic cook-set for breakfast porridge etc or a simple evening meal but will very be happy to eat out. I try to tour as light as possible, as at 14 stone I have enough of me to lug up a hill/mountain as it is.
I’m a 60yr old guy based in Manchester UK. Fit enough for 80+ mile days unloaded but not looking to do anything like that on tour.

 

[yello]

Have you a route in mind?

 

[s7ephanie]

you are welcome to stop off here for a shower and meal (Limousin)

 

[BigonaBianchi]

dates?

 

[bigjim]

Thanks for the invite. I'll bring the wine.

Have you a route in mind?

Route is a work in progress. I've used Bikeroute toaster to calculate mileage and will refine this on a daily mileage basis based on accommodation issues. Last year I became painfully aware of how far you sometimes need to ride in France to make sure you had somewhere to stay overnight.
Dates. Probably 7th September onwards to avoid the school rush. I'm flexible at the moment.

 

[yello]

Route and dates depending, I might be able to join you. Might. I'm away from France in the 1st week of Sept, back on the 12th. IF you take a route via the Limousin then I'd maybe be able to join you on-route, I'm north of there.

 

[StuartG]

Why fly to Paris with all the probs of bike and excess luggage and being dumped on the wrong side of Paris?
You could take the train to Newhaven, cross on the ferry to Dieppe and take the train up to Rouen which is about the same distance from Toulouse and probably a nicer ride starting with the Eure river. Well the ride up to Rouen via Auffay is also great if you can spare the time.

 

[bigjim]

I find it pretty easy and cheap to fly to CDG from Manchester. No problems with the bike last year, no excess luggage and if you keep away from the city [turn right out of the airport and keep going] its not so bad. Train/ferry etc is more faffing to me.
I'd rather fly and be in France in an hour and a half. I'm also considering flying into Nantes and working my way to Bieziers now. I think it means keeping closer to the coast and trying to weave my way towards the Midi rather than climbing over the tops. I don't want to be too close to the coast though. I did that a couple of years ago and the weather was very changeable coming in off the Atlantic.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Jim

 

[yello]

Train/ferry etc is more faffing to me.

They certainly can be, agreed. There can be an expediency to flying somewhere, certainly if you're tight for time.

If you'll be that far west, I'd probably not join you.... but we'll see.

 

[bigjim]

I'm now booked to fly into Tours on the 7/09 and will fly out of Beziers on the 16/09.
Going -Tours Poitiers, west of Bergerac, Marmande, Agen, Toulouse, Carcassone, Beziers. Though if time gets tight I'll jump a train in Toulouse or Carcassone.
Anybody seen an online campsite map? Was hoping to find hostels but they seem a bit thin on the ground and their booking sites won't let you book a single.