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!

To Paris the Green Way: Neufchâtel to Boisemont

Saturday 5 April

Planned to break the back of the 129-mile journey between Dieppe and Paris today.  It was a clear sunny morning - a little chilly for the fingers at the start.  We sailed through Forges les Eaux, Gournay en Bray, St Germer-de-Fly to arrive at Marines by mid-afternoon.  The roads were low traffic, passing through extensive farmland and quiet villages.  At Marines, we had to make up our minds whether to stop or try and ride on a bit more.  We were tired but after a brief rest in the town square and picking up some food for the next day (Sunday), we continued on our way, destination Boisement, more than 20km from Marines.  We checked into La Ferme Rose, the charming 15th century farmhouse of Claire and Yvon Chapon who run chambre d'hôtes and gîtes and enjoyed a convivial dinner with them and their guests.

Distance: 118km

The abbey St Germer-de-Fly 

Agricultural landscape

Rest stop in Marines

To Paris the Green Way: Newhaven to Neufchâtel en Bray

Friday 4 April

The ferry to Dieppe did not depart until noon, allowing us the morning for a leisurely breakfast and some food shopping.  The ferry terminal was 5 minutes from the hotel.  The 4-hour crossing was calm, the sea pancake-flat.  

In Dieppe, we followed Donald Hirsch's directions and found the Avenue Verte easily.  We cruised along a disused rail track which has been covered in Tarmac  and made very good progress of the 39km to Neufchâtel en Bray, where we stopped for the night.

Distance: 40km

Sur l'Avenue Verte

To Paris the Green Way: London to Newhaven

Thursday 3 April 2014

Cycling from London to Paris has been on the cards for a while.  We deferred the ride last autumn due to wet weather.  

On Thursday morning, 3 days after our return to Europe, we set off for Newhaven.  The plan was to follow the route set out in the Sustrans guide to the Avenue Verte.  It took us on the Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common before joining the Wandle Trail.  This was fine for a while, but as the Trail meandered through parks and was not well-signposted, it became slow-going and frustrating.  By 1pm, after nearly 4 hours, we stopped for lunch at Old Coulsdon, still within the M25.  The lack of progress prompted us to buy a map in Redhill and abandon the route proposed by Sustrans which, while designed to be low traffic or traffic-free, was convoluted and added miles to the journey.  We plotted a more direct route via East Grinstead and Lewes to our destination.  Although part of the A22 was busy, we enjoyed cycling the A275 to Lewes.  For the first time, we were in the countryside and the road was in good condition.

We arrived at the Premier Inn Newhaven around 6.30pm, exhausted and relieved to have made it before dark.  Had an Indian curry dinner before retiring to an early night.

Distance: 110km

Tassie Loop: Looking Back

26 Feb 2014
Now a few days after completing the ride.  We are sitting in a small wooden cabin (with tin roof), a log fire and a glass or two of Tassie sparkling.
Tasmania is an amazing island.  Hills (lots of them), coastline, parks, animals and birds.  It has been a great trip.  About 1050km of cycling but god knows how many metres climbed or free wheeled downhill afterwards.  It was a workout but without doubt, worthwhile.
So many highlights to mention but arriving in Hobart ahead of schedule and just before David's 70th was special.  Friends, Peter and Sue, had flown over from Adelaide and we joined up (by sheer coincidence) with Dianne and Julia for the birthday bash at the Me Wah Restaurant in Hobart.
Now we have unwound by hiring a car and visiting the area south of Hobart: Bruny Island (with its albino wallabies), Huon Valley, the amazing forests at Tahune and Port Arthur where it all started with the thousands of convicts sent from the UK to open up and start a new country.
It's been great cycling and keeping this journal and thanks for reading.
David and Irene

Banquet with friends at the Me Wah

White wallaby -  Bruny Island

Florita Riesling and Bruny Island oysters

Tessellated pavement at Eaglehawk Neck

Closing the Tassie Loop: Hamilton to Cambridge (Full Circle)

20 Feb 2014
Apart from 3 stiff climbs, it was mostly flat or downhill.  We galloped along to Hobart.  There, we crossed the Tasman Bridge - done once, never again.  The wind was huge and the bike lane was narrow,  but we could not fall into the sea or the motorway.  Eventually, we arrived at our start point, the Travelodge in Cambridge.
Distance: 90km

Black swans

Morris Commercial 'ute'

Barn

Never again!

Tassie Loop: Lake St Clair to Hamilton

19 Feb 2014
Woke early with a possum sniffing around the tent.  It started to rain, but managed to get away without getting too wet.  On the way back to the main road, we said hello to a few wallabies who stood in bewilderment of two idiots riding in the rain.  Found a little cafe and had a full English - it was so big that we packed half for later in the morning.  Really got going with flattish roads until we reached the turnoff for Laughing Jack Lagoon. A shortcut, but really rough gravel track and having to jump into ditches once we heard the big logging trucks.  Although it saved distance, it was a real workout for the bikes and us.
We then hit the main road and a very fast undulating ride to Wayatinah, an old hydroelectric village, but since we felt OK, we decided to push on to Ouse.  It was a tough section, despite long stretches of descent.  Was nearly knocked off the bike by a young girl driving badly.  Unfortunately for her, she had stopped at the cafe in Ouse, so I confronted her politely and explained the rules of the road.
We met up with a father and son from the Czech Republic.  They said they were pushing onto Hamilton, so we thought 'Why not?'  The road was fast and downhill.  Found the campsite alongside the river and went to the local hotel for a great pizza 'Mafiosi'.  Met up again with out Czech friends, George and Henry.  They had hoped to cycle 100km per day but Tasmania beat them. They told us how cycling had bonded father and son and was a great outlet after work.  Having sold their IT company, they had more time.  It was a pleasant evening with two lovely people.
Distance: 98km

This early Bennett's wallaby was happy to pose for a photo

The Laughing Jack Lagoon shortcut

Hamilton