I had planned a simple 94km ride for yesterday down the V3 Voie Verte from Mauron to la Ville ès Mouës with a loop back to la Muterne and le Chenil, with a straight return back to Mauron on the Voie Verte. Unimaginative and boring – but I needed another ride of at least 94km before the end of June. I did a 3km loop in Mauron before returning to the van to put on a light fleece (not cold but on the chilly side going against the SW wind under the trees).
Realised that I was now looking at a 97km ride – what a silly figure (and I can easily imagine
@13 rider 's reaction). Sod it: I’ve done June’s MCAM ride so there’s no reason why I couldn’t do another Metric Century today but as a Lunacy Distance ride instead.
Fleshed out a longer route as I headed down to Pleucadeuc. Left the Voie Verte by the old station and headed into town on the D112 (I couldn’t be bothered with the off-road bimble – traffic was light and it was only a couple of fast minutes to get to the RBT at Kermaria). Down the D774 from Pleucadeuc and then off on the road past la Maraudière to pick up the C9 westwards.
Heading for la Muterne and the prospect of a 103km total for the day when I passed a quiet road on the left signed to Bragoux … oh, that’ll be Bragou: I could drop down to l’Arz and find a way back to le Lindeul and the Voie Verte at le Guernet. I arrived at a T-junction at la Guette … and a bit confused. Right seems to be the obvious direction but a sign implies that it’s a No Through road. OK, let’s go left then .. the road hugs the base of a cliff on the left with l’Arz trundling along on the right. Reached the Moulin de Bragou/Bragoux – what a charming place (I wish I’d brought the camera – but there’s always next time). Crossed the l’Arz and climbed up towards the road that links Pluherlin and le Lindeul which I’d ridden in May.
Headed right for a few hundred metres then took a left which I thought should lead me up to Kerpaillard. Lost all the height I’d gained as the road dropped down to l’étang de Clergerel – and then it climbed and climbed. I passed the GR38 which looked very inviting – an earth/stone track through the forest and definitely cyclable on either my gravel bike or one of my MTBs. Upwards again and I had to pull off the road to let a tractor past. Finally up to the outskirts of Kerpaillard and I joined the road that I’d been on a couple of weeks earlier (looking at the map later I realised that I’d missed a small
chapelle tucked away in the trees on my right – I’ll check that out another day).
West to le Pomplex and back onto the Voie Verte. Left it again at la Ville ès Mouës and did a short loop southwards before heading up to la Muterne. Down the D149 at full speed with the wind finally behind me before rejoining the Voie Verte at le Chenil/Gournava. Losing energy after I’d got through Ploërmel so I stopped and scoffed a large piece of chocolate cake – that gave me a lift and got me back to the van with a smile on my face.
113.4km in just over 6.5 hours: a much better day out than I’d anticipated and my only regret was not carrying the camera. But I will go back to the Moulin de Bragou soon.
Yesterday’s ride made June’s total distance a bit more respectable but still about 125km short of my monthly target of 1050km. With the temperature forecast to reach 36C on Monday, I’m not sure that I’ll do much more cycling this month – but I did manage to pass 6000km for the year yesterday (albeit 15 days later than in 2024).
safe to report no major setbacks with the knee yet so we shall see how it feels tomorrow but if it stays like it is i shall be back to commuting next week .
