Day 64 took me from down-at-heel Chaunay to a much more lively Ruffec. I enjoyed the contrast, and the fact that even just 12km into the ride I found a lovely, lively spot for a refreshing coffee, called Sauzé-Vaussais. This was the France that I had come to love.

Day 63 of my 2025 trip took me from Poitiers to Chaunay. The navigation was complicated, the weather was threatening and I found Chaunay to be dull and boring. It was probably the only place in France where I’ve had that impression.

Day 62 was a day to explore Poitiers in the morning and then bask in the cool of my air conditioned hotel room for the afternoon while I made some tentative plans for the rest of my trip and then concentrated on reading a book. It was a very pleasant day.

Day 61 took me from Saint-Savin to Poitiers, negotiating picturesque country roads and the rigours of a French heatwave. At my hotel the staff saw me arrive hot and sweaty and moved my booking to an air-conditioned room.

Day 60 was a very pleasant meander from Saint-Gaultier to Saint Savin, initially along a west-bound voie verte (where I had the only 2 punctures of my entire trip) and finally on a lovely but undulating quiet road. Oddly, my accommodation hostess asked me to pay extra to have sheets for the bed!

Day 59 saw me back on the road from Chateauroux to Saint Gaultier, where I stayed in a B&B run by an Englishman. He was an exceptional host both for the B&B and for his welcome to his local bar, called ‘Allo ‘Allo! We chatted for ages about almost everything. I am forever grateful.

Day 57 was a day of rest in Chateauroux. My biggest achievement for the day was entering the Sydney to the Gong Ride for 2025. I’ve entered it again today for Sunday 1 November. It should be fun once again, and I hope I can raise $500 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society as well. www.msgongride.org.au

Day 56 took me from Buzancais to Chateauroux. It was a gentle roll across the countryside, marked by an offer to ride in a header. I declined because I didn’t want to leave my trike and luggage on the side of a road, but I appreciated the offer. Chateauroux is close to the centre of France.

Day 55 was a very relaxed meander from Châtillon-sur-Indre to Buzancais, with a focus on the various crops I rode past, and the surprising frustration of a B&B that didn’t include a wifi connection. A local café helped out, which was lovely of them.

Day 54 took me from Chambourg-sur-Indre to Chatillon-sur-Indre and was memorable for some hills. One was up to the Cite Royale de Loches and the other was up to the old chateau at Chatillon-sur-Indre. I also have fond memories of my B&B and the gentle, pious, saintly woman who ran it.

Day 53 took me under cloudy skies from Tours to Chambourg-sur-Indre. The roads were varied, but my memories are of pleasant views, comfortable feelings and the joy of travel. People went out of their way to be kind and generous, and there was a richness and a liveliness all around me.

Day52 Tours Solstice Canicule* Fete de la Musique IYKYK * French for heatwave

Day 51 took me from Chahaignes to Tours. I giggled for a long time about a Departmental border crossing where Indre-et-Loire had installed some car charging infrastructure right on the edge of their territory. Local politics? My hotel for two nights took good care of me and better care of my trike.

Day 50 began with a ride along Mulsanne Straight on the track at Le Mans and ended with a brilliant dinner at a fabulous restaurant in a spot called Chahaignes. Along the way I rode through some gorgeous forest scenery. My B&B spot was also memorably unique.

Hey @carlafrancome.bsky.social I thought you might be interested in this from a major cycling organisation in Melbourne. bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/202...

Day 49 was a gorgeous ride across the French countryside from Brulon into the bustling heart of Le Mans, just three days after the finish of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car traffic was horrendous and I delighted in passing so many of them via the cycle lane into the centre of town.

I have special memories of day 48 of my trip last year. The open air art exhibition at St-Pierre-sur-Erve. My welcome at Le Ranch Hotel in Brulon. It was a particularly special day riding across the countryside, finding the unexpected, soaking up the atmosphere.

Look, it's only a short walk across the pedestrian bridge over the Thames to get to school from that big castle. I'm sure the daily exercise will be good for the lad.

Day 47 was another day of eastward progress from Vitre to Laval, with a coffee stop in La Gravelle. I fondly remember chatting with some Aussies I met quite randommly that night in a restaurant in Laval. They’d been to Le Mans and loved it.

Day 46 saw me back on the road last year, from Rennes to Vitre, essentially heading up the Vilaine valley. It was a lovely ride, followed by a wonderful walk around the centre of Vitre and the very impressive Chateau.

Day 45 was another restful day in Rennes. I enjoyed a stroll along the bank of the Vilaine River.

I'm seeing posts about taking the Trump name off the Kennedy centre and wondering whether there will soon be a black market where the individual letters are sold. Which letter would command the highest price?

Day 44 was the first of two rest days in Rennes. I stayed in a small suite where the internet connection wasn’t working, but a nearby hotel helped out. I brought the trike inside to shelter from some rain. I had a great pizza nearby for dinner, and bought their branded corkscrew as well.

Day 43 took me from Montfort-sur-Meu to Rennes, the capital of Brittany. I did a little exploration of the centre of Rennes on the trike before I pedalled on to my accommodation in the eastern end of the city.

Day 42 continued my eastward journey through Brittany. I rode from Loscouët-sur-Meu to Montfort-sur-Meu via Saint-Meen-Le-Grand, where a stage of the 2025 Tour de France was due to start. I followed the first few kilometres of the race route out of town.

Day 41 took me east from Loudéac to Loscouët-sur-Meu. Finally the weather dried up, the sun came out and Brittany looked gorgeous. I went from an apartment in the centre of Loudeac to a lovely rural B&B. There was a lot of rail trail riding in the day, which was very enjoyable.

Day 40 last year was a rest day. I explored Loudeac on foot, enjoyed its beauty, laughed at its quirks and took care of myself. I especially remember a takeaway pizza. It had to be a takeaway because the place was fully booked and it was the only place open that I could find.

Day 39 saw me on a gentle meander across the Brittany countryside from Pontivy to Loudeac, on canal paths and back roads. A local chap gave me a wonderful lesson in the history of Brittany at a coffee stop in Saint-Gonnery.

Day 38 was an interesting ride east and south from Gouarec to Pontivy. It began and ended on cycle paths beside old canals, with a deviation by road around Lake Guerledan. There was rain at times, low cloud and cool temperatures, but life was good.

Sunday morning, get up and watch Monaco F1 Practice 3 and qualifying, all the while remembering riding around the track on 11 June 2012, having coffee at The Tabac, noting the 9% gradient up Beau Rivage to Massenet, pedalling through the tunnel and alongside the harbour and past the swimming pool.

Day 37 too me from Locarn to Gouarec, partly on a canal-side path until it was blocked by a fallen tree and partly on the road. I had trouble finding my accommodation, but it eventually hove into view and I slept in a delightful Russian-inspired bedroom.

Day 36 was memorable for the rain. I was nicely warm and sweaty inside my rain gear, while the outside was wet with cold rain. My camera stayed dry in the pannier as well, so my only photos were taken inside my room at Locarn. It was a pleasant trip from Huelgoat on roads and a voie verte.

Day 35 took me from Morlaix to Huelgoat through variable weather along a voie verte (green way or rail trail) and some lovely quiet roads. Huelgoat is built around a gorgeous artificial lake on the Riviere d’Argent (Silver River).

Day 34 dawned while I was sailing to France. It was my first time ever sleeping on a ship. Docked at Roscoff and I rode to Morlaix. It was beautiful, both at sea and then riding on French roads.

Day 33 was a day of preparation for an overnight ferry trip to France. I spent several hours reading in the lounge at my hotel after I formally checked out, and eventually did a slow meandering ride in Plymouth before getting to the ferry terminal for a 10.00pm departure.

Day 32 last year took me into a new month as I prepared to leave England. It was a day for reflecting on the last month and exploring Plymouth on foot. I’d done 822km from Heathrow in 24 days on the road. It was a pleasant Sunday.

Thank you @skullsandsheets.bsky.social for your generosity to my friend! May many blessings come to you!

Day 31 of my trip was another lumpy 45km from Harbertonford to Plymouth. I enjoyed company on the road for a while, pleasant weather, and easy navigation. The day ended with fish and chips down by the waterfront below Plymouth Hoe.

My memories of day 30 of last year’s adventure are all about steep, sharp hills – Tarraway Rd out of Torquay and High St in Totnes. For compensation I had a lovely downhill run into Harbertonford. A large truck almost caught me as I started the descent and I rode away from him on the hill.

Day 29 of my trip last year saw me ride from Exeter to Torquay, through Exmouth, Dawlish, and Teignmouth. I saw a railway line at various points along the way and spent time contemplating the different ways that roads and railways traverse the same region, with appropriate envy for railway tunnels.

My 28th day of adventuring overseas last year was all about exploring Exeter on foot. It was interesting to learn about the history and geography of the city. I have good memories of staying at St Andrew’s Hotel on Alphington Rd, south of and across the river from the city centre.

Day 27 was wet. There was rain all the way from Beer to Exeter. There were also hills. I did over 700m of climbing in just 40km. My paper maps and camera were packed away where they couldn’t get wet, making navigation a challenge (but I managed) and there are no photos from the day.

Day 26 of my adventure took me from Chard through Axminster and on to the coast at Axminster before I headed over two hills to Beer. Hills in the region are quite steep, so I climbed over 500m in less than 30km. Beaches in the region are laughable for this Aussie – not a grain of sand in sight!

Yes, I know where my towel is. It's hanging in my kitchen.

Day 25 in 2025 took me from Yeovil to Chard. I fondly remember meeting helpful locals who helped me get onto a rail trail for a lovely ride into Chard. Some were on foot and others were on a bunch ride and they invited me to ride with them for part of the way. People can be so kind!

Day 24 of my adventure last year was a much-needed rest day in Yeovil. Sleeping, eating and relaxing were all important.

As I scrolled down I reached the first bit of text but not yet the photo. My thought was, "I don't remember ever seeing a fluffy tail on an eastern grey kangaroo."

Day 23 of last year’s adventure took me from street to Yeovil. I didn’t enjoy the roads in the area. They were too narrow, too steep at times and bordered by hedges that obscured whatever view there might have been. It was a day of challenges, but that is part of cycle touring.

Day 21 last year was a pleasant meander with a focus on Glastonbury. There were odd old milestones, Christian symbols, mythic references, long views of the Tor, lots to soak up. I went on a little way to Street, where accommodation was cheaper but very comfortable. A lovely day all up!

Day 21 of my 2025 adventure took me from Bath to The Highwayman Inn at Cannard’s Grave. I love both those names. The day was wet and grey, so my focus was just on getting to my destination and being warm, safe and rested.