Another amazing day in Paris. A test ride to Gare du Montparnasse - in crazy Paris traffic! 🫣
A visit to the Louvre, Tour Eiffel, and the famous Arc de Triomphe. Apparently Keith Urban was there today as well! 🤫
A few sweetie treaties from Noglu and a lovely Italian meal at Tasca made for another huge day. Over 20,000 steps again.
Time to get riding and give up this walking stuff! 😬
After an extremely long flight, we finally arrived in Paris. The airport transfer had some issues but we eventually were collected from CDG. The Hotel De La Port Doree was again my choice of accommodation being so bike friendly. Our room now looks like a laundromat after trying out our new wash bag. Works a treat! It even did a great job on the unused metro tickets!
Paris never disappoints with so much to see and new places to explore. I never get bored of the attractions. I could see them over and over again. It’s nice to be able to show someone else around. France has always felt like my second home and to share that is comforting.
Getting fuel for the MSR Whisperlite was high on the agenda and again the Mr Bricolage in Paris came through. Yay!
Assembling the bikes and doing a reconnaissance to Gare de Montparnasse was number two on the list. With a train strike on at the moment, who knows what Friday will bring.
Sampling some great GF restaurants and cafes was also on the agenda. They didn’t disappoint. And the wine! So cheap in comparison and amazingly good!
With only a week to go, we have spent this weekend packing. And success! 54kg checked in baggage. 12kg carry on. Winning! Now for the final list of things ‘to-do’!
With only three weeks to go until I leave Australia for France, it’s time to get packing. Amazing how all of this fits. Two bikes this time. :-)
After booking flights to Lisbon, spending countless hours researching bike routes on the Camino, and even more hours trying to locate camping grounds, Portugal has decided to decline entry to Australians except for essential travel. The only option was flying into a third country and then crossing into Portugal. Given the complications of COVID testing and time constraints, I have decided that Portugal is too complicated for 2022 but will remain on my must-do cycle tour list. Hopefully in 2023!
So.......
It's back to France!
For those who follow me, you will already know that I always feel like I'm going home when I travel to France. It is this deep affinity I have with the land and the people, even though my French language is poor. My great Uncles are buried in Northern France and perhaps that is why I feel so drawn to this country. I also have my dearest friend Elodie there and I can't wait to see her. The last time I was in France was 2019 when I did my first solo tour, on which Elodie joined me for part of the trip.
After some frantic flight changes and route planning, I have come up with a plan! This might look like a long trip but there are trains invovled!
Well it's over 18 months since the pandemic hit in Australia and grounded us all.
My desire to cycle in Portugal remains and as soon as borders open, I hope to be there.
Being Australian, there may still be complications for returning home despite being fully vaccinated. Hopefully government arranged quarantine restrictions will be relaxed and Australians can get back to travelling the world.
Fingers crossed for July 2022!
