The OTHER Tour de France- third leg- Tour de L`Ile d`Oleron

    We had decided to continue our effort to become fit cyclists with a visit to the Ile d`Oleron.  The plan was to head off after choir practice at Matha yesterday. Accordingly, we loaeded the bikes onto the new cycle-rack the evening before and Kim prepared us a picnic. As we haven`t yet bought bags for the bikes, I had modified a kitbag we bought at a house-sale to fit on the bars of my machine. I was determined not to repeat the experience last week of removing a rucksack from a sweaty back and feeling that damp clammy feeling of the perspiration trapped underneath! In fact, my bodge worked well and we could carry all the necessary stuff without my having to carry it on my back, much more comfortable.

   The weather was slightly cloudy though the Météo hinted at light rain at 2pm. We took no notice as the summer heat-wave is well established here and is unlikely to change for some time. In the event no rain arrived, of course and the afternoon was increasingly sunny. We headed out after choir and made our way onto the Island by the impressive viaduct, having set our Satnav to Le Chateau d`Oleron, the first big town after the bridge. The plan was to buy a map in the Tourist Office to plan our route but the Bureau was closed until 3, typical, must have time for a good lunch.... We decided to have OUR lunch in the square near the cafés and a roundabout which was adding a touch of gaity to the scene and then to go on to the main town on the island, St. Pierre. After enjoying our sandwiches, we drove on to St Pierre and parked near the tourist office, which WAS open and a young and helpful lad sold us an excellent map showing the cycle paths for only 50 cts.

   We left the car where it was, unloaded the bikes and bag and set out to find the cycle-path leading towards Boyardville, which we did after having made our way out of town, partly by a one-way road in the wrong sense-- there are SOME advantages in riding a bike...We found the track and very pleasant it was, going first through fields with occasional horses ( See the header photo ) then on road through the small town of Sarcelles, then through woodland to Boyardville. Here we rejoined the road to return via Sarselles to our start point at St Pierre.  On the rather narrow roads,we were both struck by the far different attitude towards cyclists of the French motorists; they give cyclists a wide berth and are much more patient in overtaking than their English counterpart, perhaps due to the influence of the Tour de France?

  As we were reloading the cycles, Kim announced that we had exceeded our previous record by a third, having covered 17.72km ! Alright, it`s not a lot but it`s some time since I could ride 50 miles from Plymouth to Exeter to stay with my Uncle John--over 50 years in fact!! so it will take a while to work up our endurance. Besides, we are touring cyclists, here to see the sights and yesterday`s tour gave us great pleasure in a lovely corner of France. We returned home tired but content with a vintage day out!

   Bye for now, got to unload and adjust the bikes, Kim is complaining that her steering head is too tight!