Monthly Archives: March 2014

Back to southern France coast

Monday March 31, 2014, 63 miles (101 km) – Total so far: 1,281 miles (2,062 km)

March 30, 2014 48 miles This morning we did a walking tour of the old part of Beziers where our hotel is. The city is one of the oldest in France and dates back to 575 B.C. At the top of the hill is the Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire which is a fascinating cathedral/fortress built in the 1200’s. We were at the cathedral when the bell sounded 10 times. We thought it was 9am so we must have travelled east enough to lose an hour. After a few hours we were ready to roll out of Beziers and Jocelyn found our way to the coast and the first of many bike paths. France is great for bike paths and also for saying where bikes cannot go. We are very pleased with this system. There were a few times when bikes are allowed on major roads for a mile or two just to connect with another path.

This was a day of headwinds. It didn’t matter which way we went as we were always winded. The travel through small villages was great as everything was closed because it was Sunday. Everything is closed, which is a great idea, but would never work in the states. It seems like we were riding through ghost towns. We were trying to get to another warmshowers.com host but the dark came quickly on this cloudy, windy day so we stopped short of our goal in Port de Plaisance. We are not on any schedule so that is fine with us.

March 31, 2014
15 miles We only had about 15 miles to another warmshowers.com host in the town of Le Grau-du-Roi. Most of this was along beach bike paths. After a lunch spot overlooking the harbor we met Brian at his home. Brian and two friends finished an around the world bicycle tour just 8 months ago. They traveled over 3 years and 33,000 miles and have recently published a book and now in production of a movie. So we will spend the next day comparing notes and seeking lots of advice on routes. Plus a washing machine and home cooked meal.

Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire built in the 1200's.
Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire built in the 1200’s.
A walking tour of Beziers, one of the oldest cities in France.
A walking tour of Beziers, one of the oldest cities in France.
A few views from the cathedral looking to the valley below.
A few views from the cathedral looking to the valley below.

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  Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire.

Cathedral of Saint-Nazaire.

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An interesting cross.
An interesting cross.
I'd like to hear this organ play.
I’d like to hear this organ play.
The streets are narrow.
The streets are narrow.
Beautiful architecture.
Beautiful architecture.
A cool bridge.
A cool bridge.
Another cathedral in the town of Agde - Cathedral of Saint-Etienne.
Another cathedral in the town of Agde – Cathedral of Saint-Etienne.
A proper bike path on a busy road.
A proper bike path on a busy road.
We spent about 15 miles on this bike path.
We spent about 15 miles on this bike path.

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I was very cautious crossing this sandy path. For those of you who read our cross country journal or read our book know that I fell on a sandy Navarre Beach, Florida bike path and broke a rib. I spent a painful week recovering in a Pensacola Beach motel then a hard restart of our trip.
I was very cautious crossing this sandy path. For those of you who read our cross country journal or read our book know that I fell on a sandy Navarre Beach, Florida bike path and broke a rib. I spent a painful week recovering in a Pensacola Beach motel then a hard restart of our trip.

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Very effective use of multiple sand fences.
Very effective use of multiple sand fences.

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Bicycle parking.
Bicycle parking.
Jocelyn will often do push ups waiting for me.
Jocelyn will often do push ups waiting for me.
Further up the coast.
Further up the coast.

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A picturesque fishing village.
A picturesque fishing village.

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After the beach bike path and fishing village we found this ride along the bay for another 10 miles of so. Nice navigating Jocelyn.
After the beach bike path and fishing village we found this ride along the bay for another 10 miles of so. Nice navigating Jocelyn.
Pink flamingos?
Pink flamingos?
The next moring another bike path...
The next moring another bike path…
which was eventually closed due to construction. A local Frenchman suggested we take the busier road that doesn't allow bikes. He said if the police stop us tell them to call Barack Obama.
which was eventually closed due to construction. A local Frenchman suggested we take the busier road that doesn’t allow bikes. He said if the police stop us tell them to call Barack Obama.
The beach areas have massive number of condos. It is about a month from the tourist season.
The beach areas have massive number of condos. It is about a month from the tourist season.
A bicycle traffic signal.
A bicycle traffic signal.
We found another fishing village as a lunch spot.
We found another fishing village as a lunch spot.
Two days 63 miles.
Two days 63 miles.