Special Thanks To....

First and foremost:
Kate & Colin for planning route and accommodation - no easy task and we are all v grateful and delighted with selection.

Thanks to our Garmin girlies Kate and Fran- we'd still be somewhere a little way south of St Malo without you.

To Sally - chief photographer

Marian & Gill- for taking care of ordering wine- white and rose and occasionally a bit of red to go with the cheese!

Cath- for being very funny & making me laugh! & for Arnica supply!

Helen- for leading the way up the hills and setting the pace.

Jules- for entering into the unknown & going with the flow, making such a fantastic effort; and being such good company.

Anne- for enthusiasm and keeping up! Ha!
We missed you the last 2 days.

Judith- for leading the way down hill and assisting in white and rose tasting.
Here's to next time..
Cheers ma'dears...X

The Bridge

Some of you may have watched 'The Bridge' well nothing quite so dramatic happened on this bridge but we did have crash! A sudden stop brought Marian off bike and pushed my bike into Sally's bag frame and to full stop while still clipped in pedals! Marian had injured shoulder and I had minor mental breakdown as thought I was about to join Marian on the ground and add to injuries and then thought poor bike was damaged . After strop...sorry girls!! and inspection by Colin who was at the end of bridge to greet us all was well. Marian was later strapped up with Gill's magic tape and hopefully no long term damage

Let the day commence...

With a little detour- Garmins not totally behaving themselves ...it is hot hot hot..Fran and kate disappear to find route hooray!!! cycle short way to missed left turn and then
We are off frightening road and into the sun flowers and long lovely straight FLAT roads- Joy!!

Au Revoir lovely chateau

.... And onwards for last day ... Hoo ha cream almost used up! Sally's knee feeling better, and Judith's leg and boob on the mend so all ready to get to destination Ile de Re in more or less one piece ....

More Chateau...

Kate's choice of accommodation this year will be hard to top.
It doesn't come any better than G&T cake, real G&T's great food and all your stinky cycling gear washed and ready for next day- perfecto ...sante!

Bike store

Cool place for bikes

Our very own Chateau...

Not as difficult to find as the Manoir but just as impressive.
'Maeve' our Irish patron turned out to greet us...and we knew we were in the right place when she served us fresh limeade and Gin & tonic cake!! ( kate you must fwd recipe...)
We had the whole place to ourselves!
Maeve assured us there were no ghosts which immediately raised suspicions- Cath def' wasn't sure as wouldn't leave her bed during night!

In the Vineyards...

These vines will make an interesting vintage with the addition of pee de marian and numerous others- an extra acidic little wine perhaps.
Sal joined the injured amongst us and in spite of pain pedaled on. No vanity either as very hot and bandage sure to leave its tan mark!
For those interested in boob recovery- it's
Fricking sore but managing to hold up ha!

Round and round we go...

Finding the right route and getting on the correct turn off is not always easy- obvi' finding yourself on motorway would not be good!
So seven times round the roundabout saw us on the garmin route- very funny for us- wish we had video as we must have looked ridiculous !!- think you has to be there!!!!

Anne

We lost one of our 10 today - for some reason Anne felt she should abandon us to go to Son's graduation? Sure she would have better time sticking with us ( no offence Rory!!)
So emotional farewell at the ferry. We left Anne waiting for John- she could be there sometime.... Glad to hears yet he did turn up!
Uneventful ferry ride but little thrill crossing the Loire! Pathetic I know!

Beautiful rooms

Boudoir de Kate and Cath- the quiet room!
No snorers allowed!

To the Manoir born

Yes we are!! Took ages to find and Helen was nearly savaged by dog whose owner looked like Federer's dad! But it was worth the extra 25 miles !!!

Catch Up pic 1st day

'Give me shelter!!'- don't think Mick said this whilst under a tree in torrential rain and hail!!

2nd Day.... Paimpont- the v difficult to find Manoir'

First of all Thankyou for kind wishes and concern for boob!
To be honest this morning vv sore and swollen- I swear it's grown 2 pbra sizes!
Brief discussion on how best to support it suggestion was to use gills special support tape and strap to neck ! Thought this might be too disturbing for all not least me!!
So onwards and upwards....2nd day proved to be very long with lots of hills ugh! But some v nice stops...and a spectacular Manoir hotel, with gorgeous rooms, food and essential calapso Rose et blanc.