Quimper to Ste. Martine 35kms.

Evening walk round Quimper and visit to wonderful cathedral. Our B&B was built for the clergy in 1550 and as you can see from the corner Shirley is standing at is a very interesting building on several levels. Today we found the elusive Green Routes which a fellow cyclist had told us about a few days ago. They are mainly old railtracks which the French Dr. Beeching had disused. Shirley is seen cycling along the quiet track.
Our coffee and lunch break was at Pont L'Abbe by an old church wall. A very pretty town set at the River Pont L'Abbe. After lunch we cycled on to Ste. Martine which as you can see is a lovely fishing/sailing port. We are in a modern house with a lady who wants to talk to us in very fast French but I have managed to organise the England /Scotland game on her tv tomorrow morning.

Chateaulin to Quimper 31Km

Spent night in a very quaint B & B run by an English couple. It was called The Old Forge House and it was set by the side of a cemetry - very uplifting. Chateaulin,see photo, is a lovely town built up high around the banks of River L'Aulne. Great cycling shop which fixed puncture and very accommodating hosts who ferried Billy's pack to the shop. Left town after buying lunch provisions and having coffee as we had to wait for bike shop to open. Still glorious weather. Terrain very hilly but maybe we are becoming used to them or they are becoming gentler - they don't seem so arduous. Decided to make short trip to Quimper and take time to look over the city on afternoon and tomorrow morning- do a bit of culture! Booked into a beautiful B & B in the city see photos of outside tonight's place of rest.

Daoulas to Chateaulin 42 Kms.

Evening spent walking round pretty village(see photo) and visited the ancient abbey then dinner at the B&B bought from SuperU.
Set off 9am and cycled to Le Fauo for coffee and provisions for a picnic lunch as the day is warm and sunny.Turned west 'la vent est sur la nez' quelle surprize!!! Across a magnificent bridge across L'Aulne river looking down to where David ,Murray,me and Malcolm had a very nice meal and Malcolm chatted up the waitress/owner with his fly undone!! On to lunch in a field then on to our destination Chateaulin. At the SHUT tourist office Billy sees his back tyre is flat so after phoning a B&B he carts his bike to a bike shop for repair.Billy and Shirley then climb a very steep hill to the B&B run by an English couple. Weather has been wonderful. Tonight we will wander the very attractive town and have dinner in town.

Plouider to Daoulas - distance 38 km

Lovely evening meal with 5 courses cooked by a Scottish chef from Glenrothes. Hotel beautifully situated looking over Bay of Goulven with magnificent sunset .
Day 2 dawned and we were shrouded in fog. No need to hurry so after a leisurely breakfast and re-sorting of poly bags yet again we set off. By this time the sun had burned off most of the fog and we were able to see where we were going and more importantly we were able to be seen by all.
By this time we had agreed upon a route. Major breakthrough. We are going to be more leisurely than last year but still with a challenge. We have to be back at Roscoff Thursday 7 October, see as much of Brittany as we can and we have to avoid as many hills as possible!! Hope to get down to Quimper and join green route which will take us along cycle tracks where railway lines have beeen prevously.
Headed to Landerneau but took a slight detour to Plounventer for coffee. Up till Landerneau the route was undulating and very pleasant with little or no traffic - mainly rural farming land. Reached Landerneau by lunch time and booked our accommodation at local Tourist Office. Meandered through market and down to the riverside before heading out of town towards our destination for the day Daoulas. What a hill we met!!!!! By this time the weather was hot and sunny and the road was up,up and even more up -2 kms up!! Very little conversation and lots of puffing we reached the top and stopped for our picnic and to catch our breath. Cycled on and reached Daoulas shortly after so straight into the pub for a beer. Lovely B & B in quiet little town. Bought dinner in supermarket and ate in garden. Weather fabulous - hope it continues.

Roscoff to Plouider 49k

France wasn't exactly welcoming! In fact it was pouring with rain and the dawn had not even come up. First stop coffee shop at Roscoff ferry terminal until daylight appeared and then clad in our luminous dayglo wet weather gear the 2 silly oaps set off to the west. As our day had begun early(7 am French time) coffee was needed to keep us going so we found ourselves stopping at a small port of Muguenier where the rugby cup was on tv but noone around watching. Monday in rural France is so quiet you feel as though you are imposing on someone's grief. Weather improved and blue sky appeared to help dry us out and cheer us up. Found some life in a little town Plouescat where we enjoyed galettes and some cider. Onwards and upwards (seriously steep) until we found our first night's stop at Plouider. A welcome hotel stop to dry out our wet kit. Really pleased we managed to climb all the hills on our bikes without stopping - can't be that unfit!

Off tonight!!!!

At Plymouth outside David and Sengul's before we set off on ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff on our next adventure. Here's hoping for fine weather and may the wind always blow in the right direction!!!!

Bikes at plymouth

Our 2 bikes in the modern stylish Sainsburys plastic bags. These will be discarded after we start with dry bums!!
We start tomorow, Sunday 25th September on the ferry to Roscoff at 11pm.
More will be written as our trip progresses.