Best week yet

Ok people I have been cycling for 7 days in a row since I left Marsielle last Saturday, but I have done it. I am in Switzerland, crossed the boarder at 2:30pm today (Friday 20th April) so it will be a well earned rest day tomorrow. I have now covered a total of 1796 miles, so that has cleared up to 16 pounds worth from a Mr Steve Edmunds. This has been my best week yet.

Friday 13th April (Rest day Marseille)

Never really bonded with the city. When ever I seem to go abroad a visit a large city they always seem to be in the middle of a redevelopment. Maybe it will look good next year. It also did not help that I chipped my tooth and it was raining. But on the other hand I really enjoyed staying at the hostel. I had 2 good social nights theres just chilling drinking beer and talking to other people. Six 500ml bottle from Lidl for €2.68 (GOOD, GOOD)

Saturday 14th April (Day25)

I was in two minds whether to leave the hostel or not because I was temped by another night there, but in the end I thought I would cycle on. It took 25km worth of peddling to get out of the urban areas, but when I did I was greated by some fantastic views and some great countryside.

I found a magical spot for lunch on a river bank, and there were lots of wind blown seed floating in the air around me. It made it look like it was snowing.

It was a slightly sad though because I had to say good bye to the sea.

Not going to see it again till I get to Italy. I found a campsite though ontop of a limestone enscarpment where I had a good view as the sun was setting.

Sunday 15th April (Day26)

Provence is beautiful.

I could also see what was coming up ahead.

I have been out of practice of climbing hills, but they provided some good sites as I went through them.

I came across Avignon at 2pm which is next to the Rhone.

Since it seemed so nice I descided to have the afternoon off and go and explore. The highlight was the view from the top of the palace and I could just about make out where my tent was in the camp site across the river.

I was starting to FADE away abit by the evening so I had a big dinner.

Monday 16th April (Day27)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO

I really seemed to cover more distance than anticipated, at one point I though I was in South America,

The next back in Cornwall by Lands End,

Found a nice spot by a river for lunch,

Went for a swim, but no skinny dipping though because people where around. I had a little explore like the geographer I am and came across some evidence for some previous high flow conditions (For 2 marks describe the evidence in the picture below, answers via email please)

I crossed the Rhone several times this day, and at the end I stayed at a camp site that was very overpriced, good location though.

Karma, when i went to the toilet I found a whole loo roll. Fantastic I had just about ran out. In the evening some cool clouds came in over the foot hill of the Alps to my east and gave me a bit of a storm to watch. This picture is for you Tom.


Tuesday 17th April (Day28)

I was just about up for a cool sunrise,

The mission today was to go over a pass in the foot hills of the Alps. I could see what was coming from miles off.

It was a bugger of a climb in the heat of the afternoon considering I had already covered 60km before I got to the base and started going up. There were some good views of the nice flat Rhone valley I had been cycling along for the past couple of days.

Got to the top and was verry tired, it had taken me 3 hours to cover 12km.

Think it is higher than Snowdon. I had a great descent though following a small stream. It was not small by the end of the 19km of down hill. The descent only took 40 minutes. Any way at the end of the day I found a nice camp site by the river and went for a dip.

I felt better for today because I could of just followed the Rhone and not had to climb any hills at all. I felt I had to put in some hills to pay off missing the pass over Andorra. Looking at the GPS I started at 206m then climbed to 1086m then dropped back to 300m, and concidering the route i took over the Pyrenees was 800m lower than the Andorra one, I feel much better.

Wednesday 18th April (Day29)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECCA

I thought that the place I had stayed in remined me of Lynmouth.

Some crazy building work. Looking at the map I choose to cycle through a couple of gorges. I had no idea about the climb I had infront of me through the Gorges De Bourne. My map did not show any spot heights for this bit. So as I set off I started to climb. I did not mind though because my legs were fresh and it was not to hot. I had some great views on the way up.


Finally got to the top and it was this flat valley pass at 1011m. You can still see some snow on the tops of the mountains to either side.

I then had an even better descent than the day before down through Gorges D’ Engling.

Again this day I had another climb to over 1000m that I did not know I was going to do and which could of been avoided as the other one could of. So I do deffinatly not feel guilty now.

Thursday 19th (Day30)

Objective, cycle as far as possible and get as close to Switzerland as I could. So I chose to cycle on the flat valley floors and just look at the mountains around me.

I also found some pritty cool cycle paths and one of them made me feel like I was a giant. It looks like a mini road with mini trees to the side.

Friday 20th (Day31)

The previous day I found a cool camp site next to Lac Du Bourget. I wanted to get to Geneve as soon as possible so I had an early start and was packed and on the bike by 7:20am. The lake was so calm this morning.

I just carried on cycling as fast as I could to get here and I crossed the boarder into Switzerland at 2:30pm.

At least I think this is the boarder. There was no signs, I just noticed a change in the number plates and the road signs and traffic lights seemed a little different. I was expecting much more because I thought Switzerland controlled its boarders a little more.

Any way that is my week. It has been the best week yet in terms of cycling. I’ll have a well earned day off in Geneve tomorrow and then carry on.

Cheers, I’ll keep you posted.