Back in Corsica - a few pictures from Ireland.
Back in Belfast - mission complete.
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.
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.
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
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
Tilburg - getting ferry tickets
To Tilburg (Netherlands) - how to puncture a puncture proof tire
(almost) to Tienen (Belgium)
To Revin (Ardennes) - last day in France
To Dannevoux
To Commercy
To Epinal and further
to .. Bitschwiller-les-Thann again
to Bitschwiller-les-Thann (France - Alsace)
to Corcelles (Switzerland)
To Thonon-les-Bains and Larringes
to Grand Bornand
to Chapieux
to Lanslebourg
to les Monêtiers-les-Bains
to Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye
to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée
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
