France 2010 - Marathon Bike Ride

As Dyl’s foot seemed to be getting better by the day we decided to head off on a mammoth bike ride to the North West of the island. We packed a picnic and set off in a Westerly direction through the Forêt domaniale du Bois Henri IV. At one point we got quite lost and ended up skirting around and then through a camp site. This then brought us out onto a very main road which was a little nerve racking on the bikes but we made it eventually onto the main cycle path.



As well as trying to read from a tourist map, another thing that was against us all the way was the wind and once we got out onto the open paths we were trying to cycle head on into a very strong wind. It was like cycling up hill all the way.

We stopped off round the back of Ars En Re (or Arse end of Re as we called it) and had our lunch in the Forêt domaniale de la Combe à l’Eau pine forest.  It was out of the sun and the wind.  We tucked into our bread and cheese along with a small glass of red wine.  Well, when in France…  

Il de Re - A picnic in the forest

After lunch we headed off West again. Already tired we decided we would not go as far as we had hoped to do but head for the lighthouse at Phare des Baleines at the far West of the island.  We were so relieved to arrive and get off the bikes.  We grabbed an ice cream and wandered around the light house and to the beach to check out the view.

Il de Re - Phare des Baleines lighthouse

Sadly, as was the case with most of the beaches we came across, the hurricane storms the area had endured, in the spring, had swept away most of the sand, trees and landscape.

Il de Re - Another sandless beach

Thankfully the ride back was much easier with the wind behind us.  This time it was like riding down hill all the way and watching the people riding back the way we had come into wind.  We really felt for them.  Halfway back we stopped at the quayside in Ars En Re and sat down in one of the restaurants for a drink and a crepé.  This time the crepé was really delicious.  With the Il de Re salted caramel and cream.  Mmmm!

By the time we had peddled back to the apartment we were good for nothing so went across the road to the pizza restaurant for dinner.  It was actually very nice apart from the fact that with our poor French language skills Pug managed to ask for rare duck instead of medium.  I think mine was still breathing it was so rare.  It was still delicious though.  Nothing special but good value.  Another bonus was that when the children got bored they just went back to the apartment across the road while me and Pug sat, relaxed and enjoyed our wine.