Tour of France, May 2016 (hopefully with photos)

[TCFA]

**photobucket being a tit, i'll add photos to this post when it works again!**

So this was my route, not planned much just day by day

Day 1
London - Calais - Sille le Guillaume

Chunnel across as usual. Just a blast down the motorways, to stay in this place just outside Le Mans. Nice hotel, bit spenny. Swanky meal but even more spenny.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1115_zpsc7pndrza.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1127_zpshjdu9ksz.jpg

Day2
Le Mans Moto GP

I thought they might have been sorted for public transport to the race but not so. So I rode. Which was quite an experience. It meant I had to lug my shite around in the sun and not drink - but that was ok because when I decided to splash out racetrack prices for one Moto2 beer and a big lunch and soft drink to dilute it all, it turns out with was non-alcoholic. Good race, and fun to ride in and out. People hanging out by the roundabouts and the road side waving all the way etc etc. The French seem to like their bikers.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1124_zpspdb3evyl.jpg

Day 3
Sille le Guillaume - Arcachon

Shite weather most of the day but it cheered up when I got to Bordeaux wine company and it got gorgeous. Random truck stop on the side of the N10 which had an awesome German Shepherd and a very accommodating hostess. Archachon was a little town on the atlantic coast with good seafood and wine.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1136_zps1i3yzxih.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1145_zpsvf8m6chv.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1168_zpskqnuf3ni.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1173_zpsj1rkbbb5.jpg

Day 4
Archachon - Engomer

Down into the Pyrenees. The sat nav was set to twisty and it took me through all these nadgery little farm type tracks. Cool, but took ages and canned it after a while, very slow. When I got close to Engomer I went via Col de Portet D'Aspect. Wicked little pass.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1181_zpsua8t5azo.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1183_zps6lkfomn7.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1203_zpsgealtxnn.jpg

Day 5
Stay put (short ride out for lunch)

Chilled with my friends, helped clean the house, service the bikes that they were using to set off to australia, have lunch, a few beers in the evening, all in all pretty cool. Nice sunset from the house.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1208_zpsu47pkird.jpg

Day 6
Engomer - Carcassonne

Wander round the village in the morning. We were heading to the Alps and hoped to get beyond Montpelier. For one reason or another we didn't leave till 6 and the heavens opened. Stopped a few Ks out for dinner then slowed onto Carcassonne. Stuck on the back roads in treacherous rain making very slow progress until midnight as my mate's Tenere's headlight went!

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1225_zpsjiwb0rlv.jpg

Day 7
Carcassonne - Chatelet

Motorways into the Alps. Mixed weather. Arrived in the evening in time for some cheese, saucisson, wine, beers and lots and lots of pastis.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1243_zpsmtzuc2nm.jpg

Day 8
Chatelet - Dijon

Hungover like a rockstar. Planned to make it 500Ks to Nancy. Started out with some nice alpine riding for 100km then had to hit the motorway. Got as far as Dijon as was barely awake. Checked in there and replanned the rest of the journey. Ordered some shitty fruity belgian beer in a rock bar, then went into town to get some grub and get a frosty reception. Don't worry, my belly full of trappist booze ensured I smashed a Leffe glass clumsily all over the table. Classy.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1247_zpskdmgkktx.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1250_zpsayulqpva.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1262_zpss2se0ezs.jpg

Day 9
Dijon - Paris

Fvck the long journey to Calais or thereabouts. Train pushed back a couple hrs the next day. Whizz up to Paris, around the Periph, hole up in a hotel on the north end, check in before 3pm, and chill the fvck out in Paris, sipping tourist price lager and looking at a big steel tower. Sunny day, food, beers, cocktails. Easy.

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1272_zpsggx3s4i9.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1277_zpsqn2e7z3w.jpg

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1283_zpse41st1vy.jpg

Day 10
Paris - Calais - London

Nothing to report. Get to London, back to reality, feel my zen ooze away.......

https://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w502/TCFA1/France%20tour%20May%202016/DSCF1300_zpsqyhtenao.jpg
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Then: Kawasaki ZZR250 > Suzuki Across 250 > Suzuki SV650 > Honda CB750
Now: Honda CBR600F and Triumph Tiger 800 XRT

[Ste]

www.imgur.com

[rubyhorse2]

nice little trip there buddy, not had leffe for ages, bloody love that stuff

[Matt B]

Nice pics
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.