Evans on Tour - Day 1: Morlaix

Having arrived en France and fixed my puncture we made leisurely progress to Morlaix to find the festival de terre et mer in full swing. After the requisite stop at the café du choice for recovery drinks we checked in to our hotel, washed shorts, and out for moules et carafe. Tomorrow beckons.

Evans on Tour - we're off!

A flat front tyre before we even left the house, but it kept enough air to get to the ferry; let's hope for a flat crossing. Left the kids asleep and the house tidy - will it be standing in 2 weeks?

France - day 6

A blustery day of intermittent squalls saw us take to the voie vert to Carhaix, where we partook of the de rigeur café au lait, and thence to the Nantes-Brest canal all the way to Chateauneuf-du-faou where we stopped for . . . yes you guessed it. A bit harsh on the derrier but peaceful and hardly a soul to be seen except the kingfishers and (at one point) the cavalry.

France - day 5

Another day to see the Tour Rode some of the route; closed roads, people clapping . . . until we got slung off by the gendarmes. Watched the caravan through and lost our dignity beating kids and women to the free tat thrown out. On to Callac by back roads to meet Andy and John who were across for the day. Very windy return. Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWA-58LkIF8

France- day 4

Well, the plan was to watch the stage finish at Mur de Bretagne, but the weather reverted to Breton downpour so plan B - feed station at Spezet - was enacted. Got there in a downpour. Riders came through and bottles flew, and I managed to beat a little kid and an old bloke to a discarded SaxoBank bidon . . . was it Alberto Contador's?? Colin stuffed a discarded jersey down his shirt but was spotted by the team car and had to hand it back.

France - day 3

Bells at dawn again, but a late off for an easy day out on the backroads to La Chapelle St Michel de Brasparts, where a kind gent from Somerset took this club photo. . . Tomorrow is the big day; off to Mur de Bretagne to watch a stage finish, will Cav get this one?

France - day 2

Roused at 7 am by the church bell adjacent to my garret room, it struck me that the church in France must be exempt from environmental health legislation, on sunday au least. Change of plan, went to Quimper in 28 C heat, and found it mostly shut so settled for a baguette. Rolling hills and headwind (both ways?), 80 miles broken by a cidre stop in Chateauneuf du faou. Knackered!

France - day 1

Rose and shone early on the Plymouth-Roscoff ferry and set off after a full english along the coast to Morlaix where we stopped for café au lait. Easy ride to Huelgoat which is a pretty village on a lake with giant boulders. Our £100 per week bargain accomodation turns out ok but I'll update after a night in the dodgy bed. Truite aux amande and cold rosé vin at the Hotel du Lac to round off the evening. Off to Brest tomorrow. Sun forecast for tomorrow . . moules et frites on the front?