July 12, 2013
Day 1: Thunderbirds are GO!
The adventure begins! 09:00 BST As I write these words, I am at my desk, with sophie the trusty LHT waiting in our underground parking. Penelope's bike is suitably locked up at her work. Up at the brutal hour of 05:00 this morning, and final preparations for departure. On this occasion, our tasks were somewhat onerous, as a friend of ours is coming to stay for a few days during our absence. We get someone to water the plants, and she gets a budget holiday with her partner. The house was spick and span when we left it, and so it was downstairs to load the bikes..
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Again, I'm carrying the lion's share of the kit, but that's to be expected. I have been training hard for this day, and so the LHT is loaded pretty heavily:
Penelope has her own packing list, which she hasn't yet put onto computer. I anticipate receiving a copy of that, before lunchtime. We got the train into London this morning - hence the early rise, since to get bicycles onto trains, one must arrive in the city no later than 07:00. In the event, the train was a lot busier than we had anticipated, and some people looked pretty annoyed to be squeezing past two enormous bikes. As we got close to London Bridge, the early morning commuters started to get ready to get off, and one lovely lady smiled at my apologies, assured me that there was no rush, and then engaged us in conversation, asking where we were going, and saying that she hoped we would have great weather. Faith in human nature: restored. Penelope and I both work in the Square Mile (or pretty close, in Penelope's case), but we decided to push the bikes across London Bridge. I accompanied Penelope to her office, and waited until she 'debiked', and took her panniers etc to her office. And here I am. The plan is to sod off from here at around 11:30, pick up a couple of sandwiches at the 'Prêt à Manger next to my office, and then head across to get Penelope. Destination: St Pancras, and from there, Dover Priory. This will probably be the last update that you see on the site, for a day or two. 20:00
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
We are at the Camping de la Plage. Penelope did very well, because she has been off the bike for a while, but kept going when the first instinct was to throw in the towel. After meeting up at Penelope's office, we rode the two miles or so from there to St Pancras. The 13:12 was really busy, but there was some sort of festival going on in Stratford (the London one), and most people got off there. There was no bicycle rack of any type on the train. Once again, we had to improvise to get the bikes onto the train. South Eastern, you suck. We had eaten a sandwich, and so upon arrival at Dover Priory, we cycled straight to the ferry terminal.
We were sent to lane 186, and before long, it was once more up the ramp to the ferry, and thence to France.
When we came down the other side, it was straight onto the D119, towards Grand-Fort-Philippe.
Getting to the campsite was easy, and the security guard complimented me on my French, but that's just politeness, I think.
We settled into pitch n° 70, and there was a couple of French cycle tourists next to us. And god almighty, were they cold! I dunno, a bit of solidarity wouldn't go astray.
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
We secured the bikes, pitched the tent...
... and headed out on foot to explore the environs.
We were hungry, and would have eaten the pasta we had on us, if you hadn't been such a stubborn bastard, and actually been bothered filling up the stove. Needless to say, the above was written by Penelope. In fact, I exercised strategic decision-making, and held back from filling the stove bottle, as I'd heard that the waitress at the restaurant near the campsite, was a bit fit. I was not disappointed. There then followed an overdose of cheese, as we had goat's cheese on toast, followed by a delicious four-cheese-but-no-tomato pizza. Needless to say, all of it washed down with beer and wine.
The restaurant is called l'Univers, if you fancy checking out a hot brunette. And good food, says Penelope. Pfffftt ... Back to the campsite. Bed. Content.
Today's ride: 17 miles (27 km)
Total: 17 miles (27 km)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 1 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 0 |