Eurovelo 6 - Mulhouse to Saint-Nazaire

Eurovelo 6 - Mulhouse to Saint-Nazaire - preparing to head off

And so, another adventure begins! This time last year, I was around halfway through my solo ride, source to sea, along the Eurovelo 15, from Oberalppass to Hook of Holland. I fly out tonight from Brisbane, Australia, to cycle across France from Mulhouse near the Swiss border to the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Nazaire.

The ride follows the Eurovelo 6, along the Doubs and Loire rivers, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Loire Valley. The tourist brochures note that the Loire Valley is renowned for its numerous châteaux (castles), charming villages, vineyards, and the Loire River itself. Given that there are over 300 chateaus in the Loire Valley alone, I’m sure I’ll enjoy the first one … and then concentrate more on the many wineries enroute.

Similar in distance to my ride last year, the route will be around 1,250 kms (plus an additional couple of hundred exploring towns and villages ... and getting lost!) This year will be a bit different as I’ll be travelling with 4 friends who decided to join. I had hoped that I’d be a bit fitter than when I started the EV15 ride – as those who read my blog last year will know, I’m not a regular cyclist, not owning a shred of Lycra and having only done 3 warm-up rides of around 20 kms each last year before embarking on my adventure through 6 countries. This year I did semi-regular gym sessions on the exercise bike along with a few rides around the neighbourhood and in Brisbane. However, a bout of Covid, quickly followed by a melanoma removal from my leg and a subsequent skin graft, has meant that my well-intentioned training regime went out the window. I’m sure my traveling companions are joining to either laugh as I cough and splutter along the journey or bring my body home!

I’ll try to keep my blog up to date for anyone interested in following it. Last year I used to ride to raise awareness and funds for the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. This year I haven’t been as organised, so I ask you to check out the Foundation's website to see for yourself the great work they do in Vietnam rescuing and supporting children and young people in crisis situations. If you can support them, please do.

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Eurovelo 6 - Day 21 - Nantes to Saint-Nazaire (final day)

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Eurovelo 6 - getting to the starting line

So I'm travelling on this trip with 4 old and new friends. Two old friends read my blog from last year's trip and wanted to know when the next one was ... and so here we are! Col and Brett are ex-RAAF mates. I've known Brett for around 40 years. I was best man at his wedding with Janine, and I'm Godfather to his daughter, Ashley. We've done many of my hiking and motorcycling trips together over the years. So you could say we're best mates. Imagine my surprise when we breezed through check-in and immigration at Brisbane airport, entered the lounge and found the open bar ... just to him utter friendship-ending words of, "I'm not drinking". We're now sitting in different rows of our flight ... apparently too late to uninvite him! Sitting in different rows ended up being my bad! With haste to welcome my new travelling companion, an older woman heading home to Birmingham, I asked if she'd enjoyed her holiday in Australia. "Can't wait t...

Eurovelo 15 - Day 21 - Orsoy to Arnhem

So what I thought was a kid's sideshow alley was just a precursor for the main event ... a techno music festival ... just 50 metres from my room. I thought about joining the crowd, who seemed to be enjoying the spectacle (probably the musicians' parents), however, techno isn't real music, and their repertoire of 3 songs, played over and over, spoiled the magic. 11.34pm, 11.35pm, 11.36pm ... 12.02am - where is the rain, thunder and lightning now? 12.25am - surely someone has called the Mayor of Orsoy! 12.45am - hold my beer! Finally, all went quiet around 1.02am and I got to use my pillow! My body clock woke me around 6.30am and I'd arranged breakfast for 8.00am. The hotel didn't normally serve breakfast until 9.00am on a Sunday, however, they made an exception just for me! At 8.00am breakfast was served ... it was a feast ... I actually thought another half dozen people were joining me. I felt so guilty not being able to put a dent into all the offerings ... then t...

Pedalling for a Purpose

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