To Paris the Green Way: Boisement to the Eiffel Tower

Sunday 6 April

Despite the rain forecast, the sun came out.  The road to Triel-sur-Seine was quiet with groups of lycra-clad cyclists out in force for their Sunday morning ride.  The route took us along the Seine into the Forêt of St Germain, Forêt of Marly le Roi, along Versailles, into the evocatively-named Forêt de Fausses Reposes, Parc de St Cloud, crossing the Seine on an acqueduct into the Bois de Boulogne - miles of cycle routes through forests and parks.  We rode half the circuit around the hippodrome, passing race goers to Longchamp.  It was the first day of the racing season 'Les Dimanches au Galop'.  Further on, we ran into the Paris Marathon in full swing.  Picking our way gingerly across the body of runners, we made it across the Boulevard Périphérique into central Paris.  The road closures for the marathon gave us a quiet run down towards the 'quai', where we crossed the Pont d'Iéna to meet the Tour d'Eiffel.  We celebrated with a photo before cycling home along the 'berges'.

Distance: 66km

A Brazilian band cheers on runners at the Paris Marathon

Hurrah!