Crazy Parisians on bicycles made for an exciting departure from Paris especially when mixed with rush hour traffic! In thinking back about the trip today, might have been better starting earlier or later to avoid Monday morning traffic - bike and car!
The bike lanes were almost as busy as the car lanes. At times, we were going 12-14mph and bikes were whizzing by us! Really great that there are the bike lanes though, quite separate from car traffic. Wasn’t always the case, but quite often.
Today’s route took us along and across the Seine in places. The first third was getting out of Paris. We took a different route out than we took in. The route in was very scenic through parks and interesting parts of the city, but the 30 miles took us a full day. The last parts getting into central Paris were very downhill, less fun getting back out. All of that would not be a problem usually, but due to the lack of a hotel in Vaux, we were going an additional 12 miles on the way back.
We did get to do the run up to and around the the Arc de Triompe (albeit some of it was walking) - felt very Tour de France when I had a second to think about anything besides navigating and signalling! 12 avenues meet here with no traffic lanes marked - utter chaos! What an amazingly crazy roundabout!
Getting out of the city was ‘exciting’ and I’m sure there was a better route. We do know of a great one, it’s called the Eurostar.
About 7 miles to get out, but the we pedalled on quiet lanes and along the Seine and the Oise for the rest of the day - lovely, and quiet!
Starting the trip back to Dieppe and staying in a French farmhouse in Santeuil, a quaint little village with no shops and no restaurants.
Picked up a picnic dinner from a little supermarket - wine, cheese, hard sausage, fois gras.
Wine is not so highly taxed here so you can get some quite nice ones for €5.
Dinner on the patio in the front garden.
Such a contrast to Paris, not bad just a total contrast. City centre to French countryside. Very nice place to overnight!
Starting the trip back to Dieppe and staying in a French farmhouse in Santeuil, a quaint little village with no shops and no restaurants. 
Picked up a picnic dinner from a little supermarket - wine, cheese, hard sausage, fois gras.
Wine is not so highly taxed here so you can get some quite nice ones for €5.
Dinner on the patio in the front garden.
The city sounds wild to navigate! Beautiful pics, the quieter parts most have been so relaxing after that!
ReplyDeleteIt was wild, but really glad we did it. It was really something special to arrive at the Eiffel Tower (even w/ the chaos!). I’d like to spend a few days here, rambling about. All of the sights were easily accessible by bike, probably more so than by Metro
DeleteNever actually driven in Paris but have driven/ridden 1000’s of miles in France. If the ride out was anything to go by they banned all the crazy Parisian drivers and made them ride e-bikes or scooters. Completely mad. It’s one of those things where you are glad you did it but once in a lifetime is enough 😂😂😂. Brilliant “mission controlling” from the back. Hats off to Chris, first big ride on a bike ever and took it all in his stride👍👍, even when we lost him on a left turn.
ReplyDeleteThe Paris Metro is excellent. Just as easy to get around there as with the London Metro. So fun! I can't imagine what would go thru my head if I was following in a big city a d got lost on a turn. Maybe just pull up at the first café, plop down and enjoy the rest of the day? 😉
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