Corsica to Ireland cycling trip blog

Back in Corsica - a few pictures from Ireland.

2009-08-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Not necessarily in any particular order...

Back in Belfast - mission complete.

2009-07-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

The trip is finished.
I am back in my friends' (Wojtek&Agnieszka&Maja&Filip) place near Belfast.
The tour of Ireland was basically very wet.
But there were also beautiful moments with the sun shining down on clifs of Moher, docs of Galway, Malin Head or in Dublin.
I have met many different people and seen lots of different places.
Another great experience :-)
Day by day description will be available soon.

Cycling around Ireland.

2009-07-19T03:39:00.000-07:00

After frantic cycling against W winds and through the showers of England and Scotland I made it on time to get on ferry in Stranraer. I have done my biggest cycling day of the trip on 15th of July as I have pedaled 216 km from Alston (UK) to Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart (SCO) and stopped at 03H30. I have met great girls and guys (Clair, Sam, Liam and Mark) from the Scotland's biking heaven in Kirroughtree. They were very kind and generous with me (and my bike) - thank you guys ! Also people in Dumfries' tourist information office (Scotland) were remarkably well informed (about cycling paths) and kind. I arrived in Belfast two days ago, on 16th of July. Yesterday was big information and maps getting day. People from Bikedock shop were very professional and kind and directed me to Sustrans' bureau. Where I have been given a pile of cycling maps of Northern Ireland and great information from very friendly people (thanks Patricia and Steven !). After 3000 km my bike got new tyres. Now I am having good rest in my friend's place near Belfast (thanks Wojtek&Aga&Maja&Filip !).
The last part of the adventure - the tour of Ireland should start today.
Once again, the thorough, day by day description of events will be done after my return to Corsica, in two weeks - all being well.
Projected return to Belfast in twelve days.
Big thanks to everyone who provided me with help these last days :-)

A pint of Guinness in Belfast.

2009-07-18T12:01:00.001-07:00

Waiting for the ferry in Ijmuiden (Netherlands)

Last sight of mainland Europe

Approaching Tynemouth (Newcastle)

Cycling from Tynemouth to Newcastle

On the C2C (Coast to Coast) near Consett

Storms in Scotland

Storms in Scotland near Dumfries (SCO)

Scottish cross

Lovely countryside

Trying an MTB in Kirroughtree (7 stanes)

Sam (bike expert) in Kirroughtree

Liam (bike expert and rider) in Kirroughtree

Modern shepherd in Scotland

Irish sea (Luce bay) - near Stranraer

to Ijmuiden - boarding a ferry to England

2009-07-13T01:35:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I made it to Amsterdam. In a few hours I should be on the ferry to Newcastle.
The weather last week was really wet. I took many showers and storms.
Happy to see the sun again :-)
Of course I don't have enough time to describe everything thoroughly at this time.
Here is a few pictures from yesterday :

to Amsterdam

2009-07-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

Tilburg - getting ferry tickets

2009-07-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

To Tilburg (Netherlands) - how to puncture a puncture proof tire

2009-07-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

(almost) to Tienen (Belgium)

2009-07-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

To Revin (Ardennes) - last day in France

2009-07-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

To Dannevoux

2009-07-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

To Commercy

2009-07-06T08:15:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

To Epinal and further

2009-07-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

Alsace and what's coming next.

2009-07-05T02:44:00.000-07:00

Hello again ! (next stage of talking to myself).
I have got LOOOOOTS to describe and also lots of pictures to post. BUT
At this moment I simply do not have enough time to spend on the computer as I am squatting the one of my friends' daughter in her room.
So far I have finished Corsica tour, Alpine tour through most of the highest passes including cime de la Bonette (2802 m), col du Galibier (2642 m) and col de l'Iseran (2770 m), I have cycled through Switzerland from Lausanne to La-Chaux-de-Fonds. At this moment I am sitting in my friend's place in Bitschwiller-les-Thann, typing these words. I should leave in short time, heading North-West to Epinal and then further North toward Rotterdam, where I should take a ferry to Hull. Until now I have made 1617 km and spent 97 hours and 25 minutes cycling. But these are only numbers. The real core of this voyage is people I have met along and magic places I have had a chance to visit. Wonderfull Corsica, beautiful Alpine valleys and high places, quiet landscapes of western Switzerland kind and joyful people in France and Switzerland. I have much more to write about them and their kindness and hopefully will do this soon. In the meantime I woud like to say enormous THANKS to everyone, who contributed to this trip. By a nice gest or smile, or much more, like Janka in Calvi (France - Corsica), Nicolas and Basia in Nice (France) Linda and the gang in Larringes (France), super-kind Christophe's family in Corcelles (Switzerland) and Stanislaw and Renata in here, Bitschwiller-les-Thann (France) and lots of others who will come back to these pages as soon as I have enough of time and an access to the internet.

to .. Bitschwiller-les-Thann again

2009-07-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

to Bitschwiller-les-Thann (France - Alsace)

2009-07-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

to Corcelles (Switzerland)

2009-07-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

To Thonon-les-Bains and Larringes

2009-07-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

description coming soon

to Grand Bornand

2009-06-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

description coming soon

to Chapieux

2009-06-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

to Lanslebourg

2009-06-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

to les Monêtiers-les-Bains

2009-06-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

to Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye

2009-06-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

description coming soon.

to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée

2009-06-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

08H30 Departure from the town of Nice. Nicolas waves farewell as I am speeding down the Valrose. Then comes l'avenue Jean Medecin and la promenade des Anglais, full of people running, walking and cycling back and forth. At the airport Nice Côte d'Azur I turn right toward the jagged line on the horizon. The industrial part of the vallée de la Tinée is not too nice. But eventually after a few hooks and tunnels the things become much nicer. There is less cars and more rock.
13H15 Saint-Sauveur-de-Tinée (500m) - a stop for a beer and soda. The wind is getting stronger and the sky is partially covered with dark, grey clouds.
15H00 Isola - stop for a mug of fresh raspberries, bought from a friendly, elder guy. Who also gives me some precious informations about campings and restaurants ahead.
17H00 Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée (1100 m). Camping "du plan d'eau". I meet a fellow cycling tourist Andrew, a South-African, living in London. This guy is really courageous : not much training, simple equipement, yet he has done "la route de Grandes Alpes" from Switzerland to this place through the highest passes in Europe. He looks approprietly exhausted, with sunburnt face and tired but happy eyes. The supposedly best place for a dinner in the vicinity : "resto des Amis" is closed. So we have our load of pasta, along with a cool conversation in a little restaurant, not far from the camping.
Daily technical data : distance : 98 km / cycling time : 5H56 / average speed : 16,5 km/h / max speed : 45 km/h / total : 785 km / 44 hours

Nice to Geneva

2009-06-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

After one relaxing day with my friends in Nice (thanks Nico&Basia) it is time to set off.
Tomorrow in the morning I will leave Nice for Alpine route.

Après une journée tranquile à Nice (merci Nico&Basia) il est temps de partir.
Demain matin je vais quitter Nice pour la partie alpine.

Po spokojnym dniu w Nicei (dzieki Nico&Basia) czas uderzyc w droge.
Jutro rano opuszcze Nicee droga alpejska.