A week ago I headed off to France (Bonjour!) for a long weekend as part of some birthday celebrations. This is the fourth time I’ve ventured round these foreign parts and the second time on my beloved Silvano – and as usual my main thoughts concerned getting on and off the ferry in one piece!
I don’t know why but there is something about wet metal surfaces that sends fear through my heart…. yet lo and behold, to my surprise there were no mad moments of wheel spinning, slippin and a sliding anywhere – and that “surprise” turned out to be the theme of the holiday.
Admittedly the first time I rode Silvano around France, at five months we were still in the early stages of our relationship. A year later and more than 9,000 miles between us it was a really different matter. This time I felt settled on my baby – I know how he reacts to corners, switchbacks, wet roads, gravel and high winds. I know his braking points and how much clutch control I need. It is really amazing what a difference a year’s made 🙂 Although initially we had thought of going to Millau we opted to take things easier and headed over to Reims, then to Charleville-Mezieres. I love this place with its sweeping and twisty roads and it’s only a short hop across the border to Belgium to enjoy their lovely roads too.
But just as I was getting into the swing of things disaster struck… NO I did not fall off or drop my bike 😛 – instead we found ourselves in Mons. A rather quaint yet bubbly place to spend some time, rather picturesque with plenty of historic architecture to gawp at……and everywhere you go, whether pavement or street it is COBBLED 😦 Oh ye gawds I cannot remember the last time I was that scared – it made the fear of the ferry seem but a moment of hesitation).
At one point I had to turn a corner, head downhill, avoid pedestrians on the crossings and tackle three way traffic!!! I found myself frozen – at first I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t moving. Then I realised my foot was refusing to obey and move off the back brake! I literally had to tell myself off (“Man up girl and get off the brake so we can get the hell out of here”) before I could gather up the nerve to move. Needless to say I was pretty grateful there wasn’t any rain to add to the mix and I was ready to get off the wheels, kneel down and kiss the tarmac when I finally got back to a “civilised” road lol. Congratulating myself on getting through it was obviously too much for the universe which decided to throw in some more cobbles as we ventured through Tournai – but by this time I was ready to laugh at myself and just got on with it!
Feeling under the weather one day I was happy to go pillion to enjoy the views even more – and the Irish Coffee 🙂 and was eternally grateful I’d made that decision as the heavens opened for a torrential downpour 😉 Nothing like having a big bloke in front of you to shield you from the rain lol.
He’s also very useful at other times of the break when you realise that your bike’s battery is flat and you can’t get it started with a push! One set of jump leads later, a kind English man (spotted from his Brit plates!) and less than 20 mins later we were on our way 🙂 I may well have European breakdown cover but it’s so much quicker to have your own handyman with you lol (many many thanks honey 😉 )
France is a beautiful country to ride around (if you ignore the flat north part) and I enjoyed the roads particularly along its mountain rivers which roll out in front of you edged by massive rock walls. With the autumn colours coming through it’s breathtaking.I use every opportunity I can get to practice my french and whilst my accent is probably pretty execrable it didn’t seem to annoy the patient receptionist at one hotel whose sign said “sorry we only speak French here” and was happy to converse about extra towels, a parking space for two bikes avoiding the local police as well as the extra code for late night entry to the hotel.
Much as I love the riding I do find I am always grateful to get off my beloved Sprint 955i at the end of the day to relax and unwind with a good meal and enjoy the sights.
Here I am at a wine tasting (that’s why there are so many glasses) and watching the world go by wondering where all the French people are. On a Friday and Saturday night it seemed deserted!
Just over 600 miles later and I was back at home, having had a safe and pleasant journey and already am planning the next one (as well as a course to overcome fear of gravel, wet metal and cobbles lol!)
Ride safe
A bird's eye view to biking! 