Preparations

Brian's Biggest Bike Ride Yet

To mark my becoming officially old I am planning to undertake Brian's biggest bike ride yet. I will again be travelling solo and camping along the way. My trusty Dawes super galaxy will be fitted with four panniers and my tent will be strapped to the rear rack.

I am allowing myself 30 days to cycle the 2500 kilometres from Freuchie to Raissac d'Aude through eight different countries. I hope to arrive in Raissac for the "concours de petanque" on July 13th. 

1 Scotland and 2 England

Starting from Freuchie on Saturday June 10th 2017 I plan to cycle to North Shields where I am booked on the DFDS ferry to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) on Monday June 12th. Hopefully I will reach Innerleithen by the end of Saturday and get to Seahouses by Sunday evening which still leaves about fifty miles on Monday to catch the ferry.

3 The Netherlands

Upon disembarking from the overnight ferry I will be on a part ( designated LF1)  of the  North Sea Cycle Route which runs from Norway through Denmark to the Netherlands and Belgium before crossing the English channel and heading north up the East side of the UK. IJmuiden (pronounced ay mou den) The Hague Hook of Holland following the vary western tips of the various Dutch peninsulas. Finally a ferry from Vissingen to Breskens. 

4 Belgium

In Belgium I will be following a loosely laid out trail known as  la véloroute Charles le Téméraire. It crosses Belgium from north-west to south-east passing through Bruges Ghent Namur and Rochefort before crossing in to Luxembourg.

5 Luxembourg

I plan to visit Luxembourg city before heading to Schengen ( of the Schengen border scrapping agreement) which has borders with Germany and France.

6 Germany

Crossing the river Moselle in Schengen will allow me a brief cycle in Germany before passing seamlessly as per the Schengen agreement into France.

7 France

la véloroute Charles le Téméraire continues south passing through Thionville Metz Nancy and ends near Dijon. Then it is probably Beaune Chalon Macon Lyon before turning east to Geneva.

8 Switzerland

From Geneva a circuit of Lac Leman beckons passing through Lausanne and Montreux before reentering France and heading for Annecy. 

The next part of the trip is on the  ViaRhôna du Léman à la Méditerranée.