This, the second posting of my 2023 European cycling tour, takes me across the Aisne and Oise regions of north-eastern France along their excellent network of bicycle paths and then along the Normandy coast to catch a ferry to England at Cherbourg.
Category: England
#97 Kent, Flanders and the Ardennes
I collect my eBike from a friend’s home in Wanstead, London, and decide to go to Italy by skirting around the eastern rim of France. At map scale, it looks like an almost straight line across Kent, Flanders and the Ardennes, but when you drill down into it you’ll see there were quite a few…
#96 Northumberland and the Scottish Coast to Dundee
I have to say the best scenery and the nicest people of my 3,200 km journey so far, I found along the Northumberland Coast and on into Scotland. The weather left a bit to be desired though, and I struggled through days of cold wind and rain. Would I go again? You betcha!
#95 The Yorkshire Coast
Riding north along the Yorkshire coast (that’s East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire) is well worth the effort. The terrain is varied and interesting and no matter that the weather doesn’t often cooperate, the scenery makes up for it and the natives are friendly. This was the first time for me in most of…
#94 Suffolk and Lincolnshire
I arrive in a wet and dreary England and set off up the east coast towards Scotland. The countryside is pleasant, the people are nice and I was truly in “England’s green & pleasant land” [ThomasBlake,1808]
#70 Somerset and Devon
After a couple of weeks off the eBike in Wexford, Ireland, I cycle to Rosslare Europort and take the ferry to Wales and a train to Bristol to cycle across Gloucestershire, Somerset and Devon to Plymouth through some Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
#64 London to Wales
After a week in London I head west back towards Oxford and beyond into Wales through the Brecon Beacons to the Irish Sea coast at Aberystwyth (and if you’re wondering how to pronounce that, its “Aber-ist-with”).
#63 Southern England
By direct route it’s only 100 km from Oxford to London but I wasn’t in a hurry to get there. I’d read that the Cotswolds by bike is a ‘thing’, so I went in that direction. Bath sounded nice too. And Brighton. Planning done.
#62 Norfolk to Oxfordshire
I start off cycling north to Scotland, but halfway there I decide to head south-west to Oxford instead. That’s how things work out sometimes.
#61 Across Belgium
After getting the rear pannier rack replaced in Aachen for the third time, I cross Belgium to catch a ferry from the Hook of Holland to Harwich, England, and cycle on to Norwich.