Cycling in Médoc

I suffered from a tummy bug for 36 hours in Bordeaux so I was cautious being on a bike at Médoc.

We cycled around the vineyards of Pauillac, viewed Château Mouton-Rothschild & Château Lafite-Rothschild and others.

We cycled easy for 24 miles, sipped the wine, had exquisite food and relaxed.

Lourdes

I went to the grotto, wanted a miracle to happen, but unfortunately it didn’t.

Lourdes is a place where they thwack you down and then some. The hotels are basic and the food is appalling (sorry but that's the way it is, call me a sinner).

We enjoyed cycling the ‘Route de la Foret’. 5 million people come to Lourdes every year and the forest is empty. C’est la vie!

Route de la Foret

Lourdes is in the Pyrenees and cycling (as with skiing) means going downhill is a nightmare because my gyratory system is all out of whack. I have to get off and walk when the gradient is too steep. I use the rear brakes with my left hand, while my right hand, affected by the stroke, cannot pull on the front brakes, so I only stop with one brake. I must put both brakes on my left handle bar for the long cycle trip ahead.

Cycling in San Sebastián

It was like being in a movie. The promenade was full of suited gentlemen and expensively dressed ladies dripping with costly jewelry. There was a white swan in the sea to top it all!

Vanessa poses

We were just idling along on our bikes having tapas and cervezas. In the afternoon I froze- up when getting out of the funicular with our bikes, Vanessa came to rescue me.

View from the top of the funicular

In all the day was relatively flat with plentiful good cycle lanes.

Cycling in Bilbao

Guggenheim Museum

Vanessa speaks Spanish and she asked a cyclist for the directions to the sea (we had only started cycling 2 miles earlier) and we followed him 26 miles over some truly spectacular scenery: beaches, gentle climb lasting 10 km, viewing fireworks, train home again, eating tapas in a square etc. We did 32 miles today.

Benito, our Guide for the Day

No Pain No Gain

All of us except Liz, cycled for 20 miles today. Two days ago I had a pint of blood pumped out and today I got my cleats stuck in the pedal, fell off my bike and bloodied my knee. No pain no gain...

4 straight days of cycling!

Friday: Vanessa, Graham, Steve, Brian, Nick & myself cycled 18 miles over plodding, repetitive hills but the views were stunning. Nick is a new young man to the Team - well - middle aged.

Saturday: Vanessa, Liz and I did 13.5 miles. Liz bought a spanking new racing bike 3 weeks ago. She  cycles with Hugh on the weekends and plays tennis - so she's fit.

Steve, Me & Brian at Draycote Water

Sunday: Brian, Steve, Vanessa & I went out to Draycote Water, a 4.5 miles circumference, flat as a pancake but there was a strong wind. We went round 3 times.

Monday: I cycled 40.07 miles on my own, my most miles ever!!  My behind is now very tender.

My Birthday

For my birthday, this weekend, we went to the Forest of Dean. Over 3 days we covered 45 miles (mostly off road) in driving rain and slippery mud. It was exhilarating – and painful! I fell off my bike on the first day and grazed my knee and knocked the mirror off my bike.

Up to Symonds Yat Rock, watched a Peregrine through binoculars, then descended a slip road for emergency vehicles to Peregrine Cycle Path.

Down the Peregrine Cycle Path we came across the suspension bridge and crossed it gingerly!

As the day went on I climb up the stairs wearily in Redbrook.

In all the trip fore-warned me that it's hard to do the charity cycle ride but I am sure it will be rewarding.