Things the French do well......

Give you lots of space when overtaking greet reach other with a kiss or bonjour..... They acknowledge reach other well.... Something we'be lost Buying French cars Having cute local boulangerits selling baguettes and pastries Things the French don't do well........ Clearing the mess from their dogs. Note that's a major failing.

some things I've'discovered'about France

They speak french..... And beautiful it is too They drive on the right side if there road. Obvious I know but I need to keep reminding myself of this They keep their houses and vegetable patches very neat They give cyclists space on the roused..... Even the lorry drivers Made it into Depart as the clouds built.... Just in time to put up the tent in the rain. It's sunny Jie... But we're sitting in the bar watching The Tour on tv. :-)

sleepless in Exeter

Why is it that one cannot sleep before a flight...... Ands when I do get to sleep I know I'll dream if missing my flight

Pre-tour nerves

One of the peculiar things about going for a long tour....or indeed travelling generally....is that you get that feeling the day before you leave when you question why you are doing it. You get to realise just how warm and snug your bed is, just how convenient it is to have a fridge full of cold milk, yoghurts & humous, appreciate the quality of discussion on radio four and having your family around you. It's almost enough to stop you going away........ Combine that with the fact that the Tour de France is on tele every evening and one questions why you are going away at all. This pre-tour worry is something to be thankful for I guess. It makes you appreciate the things that are precious. Onwards to France! It had better not be as wet and bedraggled as Britain has been this summer........ Allez, allez.

How many pairs of pants?

One of the cathartic things about cycle touring is that it forces you to consider what you really need to survive and what is just so much fluff of modern day life. Have a think about what you would choose to take if forced to pack it into four little bags and then carry it under your own steam. It's brilliant for purging the dross. Amongst the essentials are of course a cag, sleeping bag, tent, water bottle, cooker, puncture repair stuff, cycling shorts and a shirt. Then there are the things that make one human: kindle, MP3 with downloads of 'In our Time' and 'The Week in Westminster' (I guess this is where you and I may part company?). After that it's basically down to what you REALLY REALLY need: one pair of off-bike shorts and shirt, one pairs of pants ('cos of course one goes commando on the bike so nothing rubs), rain covers for shoes........ And one doesn't really need much more than that really. Besides, I hear that in France they have SHOPS. So, assuming that the Euro is still legal tender in a week's time (not a dead cert I know) then that's all I think I'll need. What with the real Tour starting today it all adds up to an exciting week ahead.

This is a holiday right?

I think it's fair to say that there's possibly more worry going into the preparation of this little jaunt across France than there was when one of us set out into the wilderness and mountains of Washington. This is probably because Biddy knows just how selfish, singleminded and driven I can be when I've got a challenge to undertake. So...my challenge, as I understand it, is to make sure we take it easy, enjoy the views, the wine, the cheese and the Frenchiness of it all as we pootle slowly along the lanes of France towards Roscoff. Fat chance :)