Mat & Kat's big bike trip
France
9
Days
514 km
km ridden
19 Apr – 27
Dates
France felt like stepping into a different world. Everything got tidier, the roads better-maintained, the supermarkets dramatically more exciting. The section from Perpignan to Arles was some of the most beautiful cycling of the entire trip, canal paths lined with plane trees, flamingos drifting through the wetlands, the medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes rising impossibly out of the flat plain. We met our cycling buddy Soren on a canal towpath and ended up sharing several days together.
Provence was something else entirely. Aix-en-Provence, the wildflower roads, a giant field of poppies that we had to stop and frolic in. We celebrated our 1,000km milestone, nearly destroying a phone on a tripod in the process.
The not-so-great bits: the mosquitoes along the coast were enormous — the first one we saw, we thought it was a small crane fly. Three guard dogs chased us and bit at our shoes. And the headwinds on some stretches were properly grim. But France more than made up for it, we left reluctantly, heading towards Monaco with tired legs and full hearts. The drivers are courteous and friendly, it's our favourite country to cycle in.
Provence was something else entirely. Aix-en-Provence, the wildflower roads, a giant field of poppies that we had to stop and frolic in. We celebrated our 1,000km milestone, nearly destroying a phone on a tripod in the process.
The not-so-great bits: the mosquitoes along the coast were enormous — the first one we saw, we thought it was a small crane fly. Three guard dogs chased us and bit at our shoes. And the headwinds on some stretches were properly grim. But France more than made up for it, we left reluctantly, heading towards Monaco with tired legs and full hearts. The drivers are courteous and friendly, it's our favourite country to cycle in.