They will be cropped out of our 10 year anniversary plans too! We considered going back to Spain, retracing our honeymoon, then we had an option for Kenya but that fell through. So we started looking at the countryside in Italy and France. Renata was actually open to doing a bit of bike riding. Ivan didn't want to push her unwillingly in this direction, but she was game and after some googling, Ivan found the Veloscenic bike route - 443km from Paris to Mont St-Michel. At least we could some of this?
The research began. We decided it was possible to do the whole route, and that we could do this self-supported on 2 Bromptons. Arrive in Paris and bike 30-70km per day, staying in B&Bs and quaint hotels along the way. At the end we would take the TGV (high speed train) back to Paris. We would need some autumn clothes, borrow a second Brompton, and appropriate bike luggage. Things fell into place quickly as we already had some of the equipment and knowledge. Others would be gleaned in the coming months.
The Bromptons would be Ivan's S2L-X and a borrowed S6L (both black) for Renata that I previously owned and conveniently sold to a friend! By changing the brake levers it is possible to use a T-bag on an S-Bar Brompton as long as you don't fill it to the brim. We bought a second 2nd-hand T-Bag so we now have couples luggage! Ivan also used this trip as good reason to get a Revelate Designs Pika saddle bag which will allow him to carry more weight than Renata and give us plenty of flexibility for this credit card self-supported tour.
Our leave is approved. We have 90% of hotels chosen and booked. Flights are awaiting the use of a debit card for cheaper booking! The Garmin has Europe maps downloaded, routes and hotels programmed, and the blog has begun. We are doing it!!
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