Dave's journey ..

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2009-10-20T22:58:00.002+01:00

A brief update after our return to the UK.

Total distance: 1181.84 km.

Countries completed: 1 = France.

Part countries: 1 = Spain.

Fastest speed (Dave): 58.5 kmph. Fastest speed (Si): 65+kmph. Slowest speed: shsh.

Total free wine consumed: 0.5 litres (honesht) and apples stolen (I'm sure there's a word for that): 5

(see photos)

Thanks again for all your support. We will be collecting, counting and publishing the monies raised over the next few weeks. Cheers. Dave and Si xx

Greetings from Spain!

2009-10-10T09:20:00.000+01:00

Yes, we made it, just.. Left Saint-Palais after a night in a converted Franciscan monestary with some other ´pelerins´. Plans of breakfast in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port went fine, ate in a resto that Alex and I hade been to last year. Then the problems started.. we got our passports stamped at the ´Port de Saint-Jacques´and our path was crossed by many evil looking cats, headed out of town on the right road, we thought, and proceeded directly up hill, pushing the bikes up the equivalent of a Munroe, greeted by sneers from pannier-free Swiss bikers coming down.

After a beer and a several warnings near the top (as we thought) we headed on up into the mist. Finally, with wild horses, black-headed sheep, vultures & eagles laughing at us, we decided to cut off the hill when we could no longer see and it was after 5pm. Hurtling down, breaks on fire, we came across a Spanish cyclist HEADING UP, thinking he too was heading to Rocesvalles. After some debate and local consultation we all headed down to the nearest village where we met the main road about half way to Roncesvalles. We´d already crossed into Spain but no border sign so no celebration, and turned over the thousandth km of the trip (a small handshake) and we still had about 15km to pretty much push the bikes uphill (if you know the road between St-J-P-de-P & Ron you will be crying by now, we were) at 4kmph into town. You do the math (as they say) and yes, we got here after 9pm in the pitch black. Just in time to grab a bite and get lodgings in a portacabin, as the main auberge is being rennovated.

Much better this morning with a reasonable kip, a wash, a coffee, croissante & a fag (me) we´re ready once more, really bursting to go, let them try and hold us back..etc..into the low, wet cloud which has descended and make our way to Pamplona, a mere 45km away, but on the Camino it will be muddy, hilly and hard work. May take a day off there.

Love Dave & Simon xx

down the Dordogne

2009-10-04T19:43:00.000+01:00

Hi people, just to paint the picture .. am sitting watching the full moon settle over the Dordogne river at a restaurant called La Table Rouge which a friend of mine happens to own. It is very beautiful. We have completed 650km and no rain so far. That is all for for now. Thanks again for all the support x

2009-10-02T12:50:00.002+01:00

we are in St Hilair la Palud 440km in, very short time here online, all good weather greqt bum sore, will update more over weekend. thanks for all support. Dave 2 Oct 2009.

Saint Georges de Montaigu

2009-09-30T22:21:00.000+01:00

Bonjour. Day 3. Nous sommes ici a Saint Georges, avec Daniel et Claudine. Nous avons bien mangé de la mojette et on a goûté à l'hospitalité de la Vendée. On espère pouvoir faire goûter à l'hospitalité anglaise après avoir été accueillis de telle manière.

Day 1

2009-09-28T21:31:00.000+01:00

Greetings from Rennes, end of day 1. We left this morning from Le Mont-Saint-Michel with our support vehicle (my Mum and Dad) providing us with best wishes and a couple of photos against the astounding backdrop of The Mont (which was unfortunately shrouded in haar, ha bloody haar) so it looks like we could have started anywhere!

After 25km we got seriously lost (but at least no punctures this time) in the wilds of rural Brittany, on a Monday (not much happens in France on a Monday) probably losing 20km and an hour and a half in a very hot, nervy "why are we here again?", kind of style.

Got it back together and finally arrived in Rennes (big place, hope to see a bit of it tomorrow) after 95km at 6pm, just able to walk to a chinese restaurant (seemed nearest and familiar) and crawl back here to the youth hostel where we're staying ($18 per person per night - youth ain't what it was).

Next stop Blain tomorrow, even further than today but on track for our third stop at Montague.

Would add more but this French keyboard is doing my head in..

Thanks to everyone for your support.

Back soon,

Love Dave (and Simon)

2009-08-29T18:44:00.002+01:00

These are photo's from last year's trip across Northern Spain. This year we're cycling from Saint Malo on North Breton Coast hoping to end up at least in Burgos, Spain, 1300km later. Hmm.

2009-08-29T18:37:00.002+01:00

2009-08-29T18:32:00.002+01:00

2009-08-29T18:28:00.000+01:00