Day 244. 56km (83160kms 7yrs)
In the morning a power-cut meant we enjoyed an unusually cosy breakfast by candlelight before John-Paul restored my front tyre pressure using a rather noisy but efficient car mechanic type pump. I’d had such a lovely time with him and Margot that unsatisfied with the perfunctory thank you I’d given them, I circled back to give proper thanks for a lovely evening.
Margot had given me directions to avoid the main road but there was scarcely any traffic at this hour so I continued along the d935 to Chartres. There a several churches to visit here, & I began at St-Aignan with its wooden barrel-vault roof and faded painted wood panel interior. Nearby Église St-Pierre was once part of a 7th century Benedictine monastery. But the town’s crowing glory is the gothic Cathédrale Notre Dame with its 12th century Romanesque portal and 176 extraordinary stained-glass windows dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Chartres is famous for its blue glass in particular, known as Chartres Bleu.
After the incredible beauty of Chartres’ churches and medieval houses the 50km ride north (aside from a pretty, but brief stint along the river) was quite dull. I wasn’t due at my hosts’ place until 7pm so with time on hand – and Warm Showers hosts secured for my final couple of nights in France – I aired out my damp camping gear while replacing two sets of brake pads.
Arriving into Dreux a little before sunset I found the free wifi in a cute plaza before making my way to Pierre’s place. Though both very busy with long work hours we had a nice meal and bicycle chat together before I retired to a gorgeous bedroom complete with my own bathroom. Such luxury!
If you enjoy my vlogs, blogs, and photogs please consider joining me on Patreon 😃
https://www.patreon.com/helsonwheels?
fan_landing=true
#france #cycling #travelvlog
3 Comments
5.5 bars = PAN-PAN => Alert: high risk of explosion on a downhill road^^ It must above all be uncomfortable. Even with my front suspension, I like to be at 4 bars and since I fitted a big tire on the front, it is at 3 bars. I remember English-speaking hikers in Annecy, one of whom had his tire explode in front of me! Quite a noise and luckily it was almost at a standstill. I wonder if there is a confusion with an English unit? It takes courage to maintain these disc brakes. For my part, I have rim brakes and especially because in Switzerland, I often go down the mountain with a load. With BBB Tristop rubber, I can even count on just 1 brake and above all, no wheel locking, no brutal braking, this is the major advantage of V-break brakes on rims (and no rim that cracks 😉) Thank you for sharing and have a good trip^^
In Britain we get so hung up on our own medieval architecture, we forget that France and other parts of Europe share the same architectural roots and the beauty, and with larger structures the majesty, that goes with it.
Hello, how are you? Yesterday I dreamed that I met you. You asked me some questions. 😅😅