As we got ready for bed Rick suggested that we get up early and take a ride over to the Eiffel Tower. I was less than enthusiastic but since his disappointment was so obvious I mustered up some gusto the next morning and away we went.
Barbara at the Tower
Amazingly, even the street riding was no worse and maybe even better than a trip through Olympia. Most streets have bus/bike lanes or even separate bike lanes. Once you get to the Seine River, there are miles of wide bike lanes off the street. We went to the tower, hit the river, meandered around for a while and then decided to head over toward the 10th arrondisement, where Peter and several other SIR folks had rented an apartment for a couple of weeks. We stopped at a café for coffee (my first and last $9 cup of coffee!!) and called Peter again for directions and rode on over.
The apartment rental is probably the best deal in Paris accommodations if you don’t mind being out a bit from the center (easy to get around by metro or bike if you don’t leave the bike unattended.) They had a great space and we were able to bring our bikes up even with several other people there putting together Peter and Max’s tandem. While we were visiting Peter got a call from Mark Thomas and Peter MacKay who were on their way into Paris from St. Quentin and we agreed on a place to meet for lunch. It was a great day of wandering and visiting. Rick and I were happy to have someone to talk to besides each other for a change! In my wanderings that afternoon I dodged rain showers but the clouds and changing light made for some nice shots when the rain stopped. It was worth it!
the gardens at Villandry
The next day Rick had to get his bike cleaned up and ready for the next big ride so I set off on my own to see the city. I didn’t really do anything on my “list” but I did take the metro (first time for me AND alone—no problem) to Montmartre. I wanted to see the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and the Place de Tertre. I found the Basilica, but somehow kept missing the Place. It was an interesting trip anyway. This district is the only “hill” in Paris, basically, and it’s the neighborhood that houses the Moulin Rouge and the Café du Chat Noir. Van Gogh used to live there.
statues on the Alexander III bridge 
On Saturday we packed up once again and hit the road out to the Gites in Brittany. The weather seems to have settled on rain showers so that’s what we had, but the countryside was beautiful anyway. We stopped in Loudeac and stocked up at the local “Champion” grocery store and headed out to the Gite, carefully following the PBP route at this point to be sure it all worked the way it was supposed to. OK, up this road, right on the D35, the road to the gite should be just a kilometer or so up here…nothing. We drove another half a kilometer and found another road, but not the one we wanted. After several minutes of wandering, we realized we’d have to try an alternate route which we found, meandering through the quaint village of Uzel. The gite is exactly where we expected it to be, just off the D35. Only problem is, the road from the D35 that shows on the satellite map, is only a footpath through the woods! Bikers would have to either carry their bikes over the guardrail and up the path, or do the ride around route. Both will be tricky if they get there after dark.
So, the gites were lovely! Once again, awesomely well renovated thick-walled old buildings. The owners were very nice, cute new baby, and great fun to talk to (Brits who “love our accents!”) but the road thing was an issue. We spent several hours driving the route from Loudeac, measuring each turn to the tenth of a kilometer, writing down landmarks, and then hand drawing up little maps to hand out to all our riders. (Copy machines are hard to find in France.) Nick and Lisa stopped by for just a minute to say goodbye as they were off to England the next morning to get their new baby in for his six month check-up. We were sad they weren’t going to be around for our visit, but with riders coming in at all hours, it was probably best for them. They love the states, love American food and were totally bummed when they found out I was going to make pancakes and they were going to be gone! (“The big thick American ones?” Lisa asked with longing in her voice. Too funny.
Next morning we were up early again for the drive back into St. Quentin. Did I mention this is a four hour trip on the A roads (freeways?) Ugh. Anyway, we made it back for the group photo shoot, and for Rick to check in and get his tracker set up. The Tracker is a GPS device that will allow you back home to find him as he rides along the route over the next few days. To do this, go to http://www.gpspleinair.com/ and click on the blue “tracker” word next to the line that says “Real-time tracking of some participants.” A map page of Brittany will come up. (or go direct to the map here: http://www.maprace.com/course/carte_pbp_p2.php) Click on the box next to our email address (sailkirin) to put a check in there and a bicycle will appear on the map. That’s Ricky’s location. Apparently there will be fifteen minute updates on this thing. You can zoom in on the map, too. Unfortunately I won’t have internet at the gite, so won’t be able to track him from there but will be able to track his arrival back in St Quentin on Friday. He starts tonight around 9:30 pm here which is 12:30 (half past noon) in Olympia.
The Seattle Gang
Well, I have shopping to do and bags to pick up for the riders so must go now. Happy tracking! More after the finish.
1 comment:
No pic of the Moulin Rouge?!
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