Bike life on the rivers

Since leaving Nantes the view has mostly been one of water. Specifically the river Loire, the river Cher plus various canals in between the two. The terrain also has been amazingly flat. Who knew it was possible to cover so many miles and to deviate so little from sea level? Even the Canadian prairies (which everyone promised were pancake flat and weren’t don’t compare.) No, the Loire Valley definitely wins the prize for being flat as a…. crépe.

Croissants and the City: Bournemouth to Nantes

Eleven days ago I was nervously staring at a small pile of panniers in the hallway wondering what on earth the next 15 months had in store? Now, just over a week later and I’m sat on a river bank eating a banana and watching a woman in overalls climb out of an elephant’s bottom.

The Night Before

It’s been nearly 4 years now since the idea of a ‘gap year’ raised its provocative head one evening after a bad day at work and a glass of wine too many. Spurred on memories of previous adventures and a sense of life sliding by at an alarming rate, the thought of ditching the bills, the endless zoom meetings and the shackles of adult life was just immensely appealing.