Salins des Bains to Le Vaudioux: 38.5km, 886m ascent Today marked the start of our ascent up the Jura mountain range. We chose a short distance and started early to try and get most of the climbing done in the early morning before the temperature rose too much. The day started well and we had …
Neufchateau to Melay: 66km We finally seem to have got it right, with a shorter distance and just the right amount of ascent, so had a great day. We had time to stop and enjoy the views, relax at a village tabac for coffee, and stop in a quaint bus shelter out of the midday …
Saint Mihiel to Neufchateau: 88 km Another long day, so we are delighted to collapse into our hotel room in Neufchateau. We planned on 81km of flat terrain, but a combination of our misjudgement and the hopeless software in our sat nav (directing us along a rough, grassy farm track at one point!), meant we …
Mouzon to Saint Mihiel: 114.2 km Oh dear, we over exerted ourselves! After a few gentle days, today we decided to up the cycling distance and plotted a route to Saint Mihiel. The cycling app indicated the distance would be 105 km. In the event, we actually covered over 114 km and on top of …
Monthermé to Mouzon: 73.3 km The day’s trips are steadily getting longer as our legs (and bums!) get used to being back on bikes. Fortunately the weather is improving. When we set off from Monthermé, saying goodbye to Sally and Joris who are returning to Belgium, there was still a bit of rain, but this …
Namur to Givet. 57.5 km And they’re off! Our first proper day cycling. Yesterday evening we met up with Sally and Joris, friends from way back (Cate and Sally met at Medical School in the, err…, 1980’s). They live in Antwerp, so have driven down to Namur to join us for the first couple of …
Just a very short entry for today, the first day of our trip. We have not really cycled – except to and from some train stations, but it has been a busy day. We set off from London, cycling along the towpath besides the Thames (hence Cate in the photo), then took a tube to …
I am writing this from our hotel room in Barbados (and very nice it is, too!). The sailing season has come to an end and Merryn is safely tucked away on the hard at the Spice Island boatyard in Grenada. Even in the closing days, we have had a great time, including surprise encounters with …
28th May 2025: The Windward cruise comes to an end Read More »
Compared to the start of our Caribbean season, the winds have calmed down a lot and the seas are more settled. That has given us the perfect excuse to visit the Tobago Cays, part of the St Vincent and the Grenadines group, and a beautiful spot for some wildlife watching – both on land and …
On the 31st January at 12:20 local time, we arrived in Port Louis Marina, Grenada! A total journey of 20 days and 20 hours; 3256 nautical miles according to our log. It is hard to describe the mixture of elation, relief, exhaustion, and the adrenaline buzz that kept us awake and smiling as we downed …
13th February 2025: Our Atlantic voyage – the arrival Read More »