Hi Keith, Just browsing "Europe", with an eye to a possible tour in France, and I found your very enjoyable tale of Brittany this past August. Enjoyed your photos immensely, as well as your gastronomic notes. I should've dug out my map before reading, but if my idea of un p'tit tour de la Bretagne gets to the planning stage, I'll re-read your story with map at hand. September might work, as you suggest, though other things equal, I'd be inclined to opt for May. On the matter of rain, one of the best heads-up messages I've read was in a tourist brochure for the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia: "Bring your rain gear. It may not rain, but that would be unusual." I was hiking on the West Highland Way about ten years ago, and reaching Fort William, I said to my B'n'B host that I hadn't seen the peak of Ben Nevis, only its lower flanks. "Ah," she said. "If you can't see the mountains, it's raining. If you can see the mountains, it's going to rain."

Cheers,

John

I’m cheap too, which is why I mostly camp when travelling solo. But not too cheap to eat out when travelling in Europe. That’s one of the best parts and where I prefer to spend my money!

Hi JacquIe,
Travelling solo I don't have anybody to crawl over. It would be different if Sue would ride with me, but alas that will not happen. And you are precisely right, ventilation can be a very good thing. Now truth be told, I am getting to the point that I am reluctant to replace perfectly good equipment just because it might be easier on me. Also I am too cheap. A fault I admit, but it goes with being French. Or so I am told. Actually, I really want a dome type tent instead of the tunnel type I have now. It would have saved me a lot of trouble in Iceland if I'd had a dome. And I could have the benefits of two doors. But I will probably use the current tent until I give up camping altogether. The number of days I have spent in the tent has gone down year by year, and I don't think it will ever rise to the pinnacles of my youth. Sigh. But, hey, getting old is still better than the alternative!
Cheers,
Keith

Getting older, we switched to side-door style tents. No crawling over each other (TWO doors for two-person use) and no tunnelling in! Even my solo tents have side-door entry—though two doors here would be better for ventilation.

Oh, and grosse bises to Dodie. I hope the knee gets the attention it needs.
K.

Hi Steve,
Someday I'll learn how to add maps to the journals. Maybe.
Cheers,
Keith

Yikes, the train odyssey home had me scrambling for a map!

Hi Kathleen,
Glad you could follow along. I must admit that you got me looking for details as I went. Thanks.
Cheers,
Keith

I'm feeling pretty good myself after following along. Thanks!

Hi Steve,
I will be adding some final thoughts. And an account of the train ride. But that will be tomorrow. And thanks for following. I really must stop beginning sentences with conjunctions........

Cheers,
Keith

I hate it when people send a premature message saying "Nice ride, thanks for the blog" before the blog is really done. But maybe this is a good time: Nice ride, thanks for the blog! Still, I hope you will add some concluding thoughts or an account of the train ride.

Hi Greg,
Well sir, I'm happy to have you along for the ride. I've been finding that Breton food is not very photogenic. Not that it's bad, it's just visually boring. How many times can you photograph crepes? Anyway, I take my camera with me when I eat just in case. I'll probably sneak a few more food pix in as I wrap this tour up.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi Keith,

You know, we all feel like idiots sometimes when we're on a bike tour--some of us more than others. I know I rank quite high on the idiocy scale. I hope that makes you feel better.

Just know that I'm joyously following another one of your tours in the land of my ancestors. Perhaps one of them lived in that "world's oldest building" (according to Wikipedia.) Fascinating!

As fascinating as that was, I'm sure you know what my favorite parts are. Hard to believe those boring old oysters and tuna steak were an anti-climax but, in a way, I get it. I also have a feeling that a hamburger eaten with knife and fork had to be something pretty tasty and juicy.

Finally, that was a fine food pic early in the journal. Day two or three perhaps.

Yours in Frenchiness,

Greg

Hi Suzanne,
I got to St. Thegonnac a couple ans ago. Now to get caught up with this journal!
Thanks for reading. I'm glad you like it.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi Keith, I'm very much enjoying your ride and pictures from Brittany! My husband and I toured there 8 years ago (pre-ebike days) and it brings back memories.

Have any of the enclos paroissiaux been on your route yet? They're quite impressive. Here a page from my Brittany journal when we were in Saint Thégonnec and Guilmiliau, showing the enclos: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/2010summerfrance/morlaix-sizun-taking-it-for-granite/