cycle touring tip number 2

cycling while wearing jandels and pretending that you are in a criterium down the streets of Lacanau is not a smart idea.

I survived but have had a first hand experience of the french health system.

Injuries sustained amount to some bumps and bruises...

and a broken collar bone.

doh!!!!

On the plus, a handsome young frenchman, called Sylvain (sportif/athletic and a tennis coach) gave me his jersey and bisous.... oh la la

oh well.

Needless to say, Im recooperating in Clermont Ferrand but will head for Paris and the Loire with Kurt (velo-less of course) this thursday.

the bike is fine. Will post some pics of the x-ray too!

off to the beaches of Bordeaux

On the evening of the 25th we packed our gear and headed on a trip to Bordeaux, touring through the forests, villages and vinyards. That evening saw my first taste of driving (much to the horror of pasengers and driver alike). Thankfully I was tasked with driving on the open roads rather than trying to get to grips with french round-abouts and city streets. We camped savage near Gimmel les Cascades in a clearing in some woods. After a somewhat cold night we continued to the cascades, Beaulieu sur Dordogne for a picnic lunch and wander around a medieval cité.

We made our own pilgramage of sorts to Rocamadour, a church built into the side of a cliff and a fortress on top dating back from well before the 11th century. Sarlat le Canada was our next stop for glass (icecream) and the towns marchè, which included geese being herded (cute to emma and I, foie gras on legs to JJ). Deciding to go a bit more upmarket, we headed for a campground for the night.

We attempted to see prehistoric rock art at Las Caux, but were weylaid by a pastry shop and the huge lines for billets. Not ones for queues, we headed to Les Roque Saint Christopher to view impressive trologdites which were occupied for 50000 years. These are basically whole towns which were carved and erected into the side of limestone cliffs adjacent to rivers.

Then it was on our way to Bordeaux. The city is very impressive although I thought Lyon was a bit more elegant. We cycled through the city viewing the river, fountains and grande buildings. Dinner was at a wee tapa bar although in a classic french setting.

The following day we cruised round the city on our bikes again for a last look before making our way to the beach at Lacanuc. After getting a campsite we wandered down to the beach. Although it was fairly warm (25degrees) the sea mist had rolled in: really we were lucky to see about 50-100 metres in any direction. From what we could see, the beach is a lot like The Mount, just a few more french people, suprise suprise. Quite a few grommets out learning to surf and would have been fun to get back on a board, although the waves were pretty messy and onshore. After a swim we headed into town for drinks and dinner. Beautiful seafood as expected and a gorgeous sunset (the mist had finally dissipated).

Various photos to come :)

I would love to say that we made it home and got up the following morning for a tour of some bordeaux vineyards, however that was not to be (refer to cycle tour tip number 2). However, I am fine :)

Otherwise, the french is coming along. as well as being able to order a varity of food (generally by saying "I would like that please" and pointing to some form of delicious pastry or tart I have yet to have sampled), I can ask a few simple questions and understand basic directions. It seems though that you tend to understand more than you can say, especially as a lot of words are the same.

Lyon

The first trip was to the bright lights of Lyon, a beautiful city located north east of Clermont Ferrand. JJ (Emmas boyfriend) went to university there and we stayed with his friends Jacquo and Sophie in their apartment and met various friends of theirs.

Lyon has a fantastic bike hire system so we grabbed three and toured around the city, taking in numerous churches, sculptures, buildings etc from various eras, as well as visits to cafes for esspresso and pastrie galore!! Lyon is apparently the culinary capital of france so we enjoyed a nite out at a restaurant with friends and then a visit to the museum and a stroll round the city...

Sunday we headed to the countryside to dine on Frogs Legs.... kind of tasty but a little disconcerting when you can see the entire body of the frog!! Ran into a few more nettles on a walk round the lakes/marshland in the area but managed to escape them relatively unscathed.

Bonjour from Clermont Ferrand!

I made it safely to France and it was fantastic to see Emma waiting at the airport. After manhandling the bike and pack on and off various trains, and a three hour wait for our train to Clemont Ferrand we finally got home!

Emma's place is really sweet; 10km from Clemont Ferrand (all uphill) with an outlook over the valley, although when I arrived my eyes were out on stalks!

Yesterday (Tuesday) I spent the day with Emmas flatmate Pascal who with much patience begun my instruction in french. It is a lot easier learning French in France than in the office at Opus (suprise suprise). Although there are a lot of difficult sounds to make. Still, I managed to ask where the post office was and buy a drink (although that involved more pointing than talking).

We went mountainbiking in the afternoon with Emmas boyfriend Jean Jacques, Carole and Thomas followed by dinner once we finally escaped the enormous mosquitos and nettles (I can now vouch for not falling into a bush of stinging nettles; its still itchy!!!).

Today Ive spent the day relaxing and getting out on the bike. I have lunch with Em at her work so brought bagettes and yogurt from the bouloungerie and went for a couple hour ride through various villages. The NZ cycle shirt is fantastic (much easier than trying to explain that Im not English).... Then we went into Clemont to sort out a few things and have a look around.

The next trip is to Lyon this weekend so will continue to practice my french (and hopefully not butcher it too much) and get a few more kms in the old legs. Weather is fantastic as is France!!!!

Amsterdam: an introduction to cycling in Europe!

And what an introduction...

Amsterdam must be dutch for cycling crazy. There are bikes everywhere, so when in Rome (or Amsterdam).... Hiring a bike is a great way to see the city, although it takes a few minutes to remember consistantly to stay on the right side of the road. Bikes are number one. Apparently, if a motorist hits a cyclist, they are given stiff penalities, regardless of whose fault it was... subsequently all motorists give people on bikes a wide berth.

Went to the Van Gogh museum as well, which was pretty amazing. Lots of beautiful paintings. I met a girl from Aussie/Brasil, Juliana, so we wondered the streets, had coffee at the cafes and checked out the red light district in the evening.

Pic's to come...

Am off to Paris today to meet up with Emma and travel to Clemont Ferrand. Might have to start listening to those french conversation tapes again! : )

Cyle touring tip #1

When taking a bicycle overseas, make sure that the travel agent gives you the most acurate weight limit for your steed.... and get a print out of the airlines policy!

Have luckily escaped paying 140 Euro at KL airport as my bike was 2kg over the weight limit (the weight limit had reduced by 10kg between the time I last talked to the travel agent and arriving at the airport!)... No tears shed but some desperate pleading (and speaking to a kinder check-in officer) avoided the problem (also explaining that I could take 2 kg out of my cycling box which was carefully wrapped up and put it into my pack, a little bit crazy really but...)

KL - a cosmopolitan mecca

I made it safely to KL, Malaysia after a very relaxing flight: only a third full so lots of room to spread out!

Its hot, humid and pours down every afternoon (amazing thunder and lightning!) but have been making the most of the mornings shopping, seeing the sites and swimming in the pool. It's been great catching up with Annie and getting the guided tour of KL. Simon arrives from Brunei tommorrow evening. We went to the top of the Communication Tower on Wednesday (think Sky City Tower) and ventured up the twin towers on thursday as well as some more shopping at the markets...


KL is a fantastic city. Very cosmopolitan, most people speak english, and so many things going on! Here's is a pic of Annie and I at the bridge between the twin towers which includes an enormous shopping centre. I think shopping is the Number 1 recreational activity of choice here!

Another pic taken from the top of the Communication Tower...

Later....

Just a quick note to say farwell.... Its been fun but let the adventures begin!!!

Vanuatu

Earlier this year I was accepted by VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad http://www.vsa.org.nz/ ) for a position with the Wantok Environment Centre, as an environmental advisor. The position is based in Luganville, on the island of Espirtu Santos, about an hours flight from Port Vila. Santos is the biggest island in Vanuatu, and Luganville has a population of approximately 10,000 people.

I'll be living in Vanuatu for two years, from August 19th 2006. Guests are more than welcome and my accommodation is a two bedroom flat, so will even be able to offer a place to stay!