The final leg home

Well it's been a good trip and today I had to ride the short distance from the hotel to the ferry port and then after the crossing ride from Dover home - the longest ride of the trip - 300 miles.

Breakfast was the usual F1 fayre and the ride to the ferry was uneventful except that I always arrive far too early and the facilities at Calais, after check in, are appalling.






Check out the wind sock - it's been a windy ride home and looks like it was not going to change.

This sign amuses me - so how do I get to the ferry then (ok I know - ride but it still makes me chuckle)





The roads in the UK were busy all the way back, made worse by a constant side and head wind.

So I am home safe and sound with tales of yet more adventures to share. If you are reading this and thinking that it sounds interesting - take my advice just do it.

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Riding in the Alps the final French leg

Monday

I woke up to heavy rain and strong winds so it was going to be a wet weather kit day. It keeps you dry but it is hot and so you can perspire enough to dampened yourself anyhow - always a balance. Today however was windy enough and cold enough to warrant the kit.



Not much to blog about today as I seemed to spend long hours on D roads behind very slow moving cars - have the French only now discovered sticking to speed limits and the novelty not worn off!!!

The usual lunch was had near Arras.



This was followed a couple of hours later at St. Omer with a very good coffee on one of the terraces on the main square.


There was a fruit and veg shop nearby but didn't buy this time. Interesting to see how large the stuff was and how less clinical it was.








So I am now in my F1 in Calais with a view that is beginning to take on an open prison aspect mmmm have I stayed at too many if these on the way down and back!



Right time to go out - off to the shops and eatery. Early start tomorrow for the Ferry home.

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Austrian Alps the ride home

Sunday

France is asleep - official. I have never seen this country so deserted, hardly a soul on the road.

Today was promising rain so I decided to use the Peage to get out of Strasbourg - this was a good move because for less than 10 euros I was able to cover the first 100 miles quickly and easily.

The rain held off but there was a high wind so I put on my wet weather kit and was warm and comfortable for the whole journey.

Not a day for photos but I did take lots of video clips with my bike cam. As well as the GoPro I have one of these VIO POV 1.5 units - an excellent bit of kit but unfortunately this afternoon I broke two pins off the plug so will not be able to film any more with it until I get a replacement plug - ah well it's worked hard.





It will not come as a surprise that I lunched again at the easiest and best value biking eateries out there when on the road - yes you have guessed good old Macky Dee - this time in Sedan. I had the Peppered Beef and salad wrap meal with chuncky chips and a large Diet Coke!




I an now in my F1 Blogging and web surfing to see if there is anything of interest for the route tomorrow - the final French leg to Calais.

What a strange little eatery.




A bit like spud u like but infinitely better, a gourmet baked potato house with some very interesting combinations.




Baked potato was huge with ratatouille, sour cream dip, salad leaves and chicken wings. This was followed by one of the smallest ice creams they do!




So I am now refreshed and thinking about taking the local taxi back to the hotel across the road!




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Location:Strasbourg to Charlesville les Messieres

The ride home

Saturday

Well it looks as though the Gods took pity on me after my soaking earlier in the week because after a Friday late afternoon and night of rain the clouds cleared and the sun shone.

However in my attempts to pack better and also to say the goodbyes to new found friends as well as those from previous years I forgot to take photos.

These days I choose to motorway it out of Austria as it saves a huge amount of time and the road is quick and picturesque - well except for the 16 Km tunnel! But even that is an experience - certainly different riding out without the flat tyre I had coming in!

The route I took is Landeck to Bregenz then over the top of Lake Konstanz to join the B31 an then after a few minor roads again the B33 through the Black Forest. I did stop briefly here hoping to get a photo of a clock - but this shop didn't have any in the windows. Is it only me that finds wood people odd!







After the Black Forest the route should have been easy but for some reason my trustee Sat Nav had a wobbly and tried sending me down very small roads, a cycle path, a dismantled bridge, a dead end populated by traveling folk with caravans and finally a railway line - I think I know why but it was a combination of re routing due to roadworks and a memory full from a weeks riding - I should have cleared it.

Anyhow a few hours later than I would have have liked, I arrived at the F1, showered and have eaten - I am now watching back to back episodes of Torchwood on television in French!!! Don't worry it's a temporary think done out of curiosity.

It is now blowing a gale outside.





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Riding in the Austrian Alps 2011

Friday

This is the last day of the tour in Austria - tomorrow I start the 3 day ride home.

So I chose to do a high pass but one that was both pleasant to ride with it's fair share of hairpin bends and also close enough so I didn't tire before the return trip.

The Glacier is at 2750 metres so will easily get you breathless at the top. It is in a National Park so a toll is charged and it is a single two lane road up and same road back.



The first thing you come to after the toll is a large lake with the mountain containing the glacier in the background. I think the water level is a lot lower this year.



At the top there is a cable car to the very top and below is a modern large cafe where they serve  lots of  dishes, the steamed dumplings with vanilla custard is simply yum!



In previous years I have photographed this mountain top extensively so this year I decided to walk across the glacier and go into the ice cave.























The weather changes quickly here and it wasn't long that rain threatened so I moved off the top.



There is some great scenery all the way down with a very different set if views from the way up - it always give the impression of a circular route.



I bought a small tripod attachment for my iPhone a few weeks ago and with an application that allows for a delay release I can finally take photos of myself with bike and scenery.











The return route gives you a better opportunity to stop and look at the waterfalls that cascade down the mountain sides, under the road and into the reservoir.







Looking back at the glacier often surprises in the speed of change in the weather.



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Location:Kaunertal

A rest day - Thursday

Thursday

Well after the torrential downpour yesterday and soaking my kit I had little choice but to leave it in the hotel drying room - but I didn't discover this until today so lost a nights worth of drying time.

No worries though it is good to have one day off the bike and it gave a chance to further explore the town and museum again.



I really hope the sign writer was not dyslexic here!

To get to the town you have to cross the river via a bridge, follow a footpath and cross the railway line.



It was while taking this photo I heard a kind of ting ting noise and saw some barriers coming down - now I remember what that means - either a great photo or you are squished - no squish for me - especially by one of these.



Landeck is a strange mix of some old and a lot new - they had a severe fire in the town in the 1970's and lost most of the buildings. Also it is quite a popular ski resort so expansion has taken place.











The castles dates from the 13th Century and is a sharp climb set in the rock above the town. It is easy to see the strategic importance of this in protecting the river valley.















I don't rate the fire power though - I know they have a lot of wood but wooden canons! Come on - seriously?



There was a good exhibition on in the museum so I thought I would show you an old style and new style carving.







Even the soap dish in the toilets had a  typically Austrian style about it.



After the visit to the museum I had some lunch of Austrian Sausage with bread, mustard and Kern (to be honest I think it is Horseraddish but a strong one) - this is one of the hottest things I have ever tasted and certainly cleared my nasal passages!











Heading back you pass the church and it's very ornate graveyard. You can see the improvement in the weather this afternoon.

Finally a stop in a cafe for a coffee before heading back.



All in all a good day.

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