#1 Jounal -  Bicycle Touring in Europe of 4,684.1 Km   Page 1

Day 2: August 15  London Heathrow Airport  - Victoria Station

We took the underground from London Heathrow Airport to Victoria Station. Train departures are every 15 minutes, journey time 30 minutes. After that we went to the Eccleston Hotel which we had booked for £65.

Day 3: August, 16  Dublin, Irland - Port Laoise    Distance:74.3 Km

Today, we woke up at 5:30 am due to the time difference and by 7:00 am we already had breakfast at the hotel. After that we took train to Stains from Victoria station, and onwards until Ascot where we then we got off from there my first trip was born.

We set up the bicycles and immediately with a strong indescribable emotion with the desire to discover and test myself in this new way of seeing the world sitting on the saddle of the bicycle!

It was truly the first time to pedal the bicycle equipped with bags and weights and I had never traveled so many kilometres, yes I went on a bicycle (without knowing how many kilometres I covered, I didn't have the odometer). The only loads I had tried were school books, some spare clothes or a tennis racket.

I ended my day discovering what cycling tourism was, feeling irrepressible joy and the sense of freedom I had never felt before. It was different from hiking or my other outdoor sports. This freedom of movement that my body and mind brought to me was a blast! And I can't wait for the next few days where the hard work will surely be filled with joy and pride. We'll see what I'll say at the end of the tour I don't even know where it will end and how many days I'll spend sitting on the saddle of my bike, We'll see!

Once in Oxford we camped in a campsite and here too my first time with a tent and bike yeah how nice!

Day 4: August ,17  Port Laoise - Lansbury    Distance: 113 Km

Even today we woke up at sunrise and had an American breakfast at Macdonald's!

We cycled on smaller roads passing through the towns of Oxford (we saw The University of Oxford), Banbury, Stratford (we saw Shakespeare's Birthplace), Worcester and Lansbury. It was a good day but our faces were burnt from wind. Yes, there was such a strong wind that it was annoying but certainly not quell the desire to pedal.

Unfortunately we had a problem with one bike - the rear axle of the bike was a bit loose but we quickly fixed it. Then my bike turned the wheels without giving me any problems!

Tonight we stayed at the Lansbury hotel but first bought a good road map.

Day 5: August, 18 Lansbury - In the bushes in Wales    Distance: 123.2 KM

We left the Lansbury hotel at 9.00 am on easy rainy roads and arrived in a scenic part of Wales outside of Welshpool. The day ended by camping in the bushes in Wales.

Day 6: August, 19  In the bushes in Wales -  Barnmouth    Distance: 92.7 Km

We left the nice spot of camping in the bushes in Wales and today was also a rainy day. We just stopped at a restaurant to eat fish and chips and it was also a way to stay a little dry. We passed outside Welshpool, Dolgellan, Barnmouth (on coast), Porthmanly. We ended the day at the top of a hill where there was a farm B&B .

Day 7:  August, 20  Barnmouth - Dublin, Irland    Distance: 80.5km

We left B&B on a windy day that lasted all day and with light rain. We passed through Caernarfon, which is home to Wales' most famous castle and medieval fortress. Limerick's medieval quarter, King John's Castle was just so beautiful!Then from outside Bangor and after crossing a bridge we arrived at the port of Hollyhead Port, which is located on Anglesey in North Wales.

From Hollyhead Port we crossed the Irish Sea by taking the ferry to Dublin, Ireland. The ferry crossing time from Holyhead to Dublin, Irland was 3 hours 5 minutes. Once in Dublin we lodged in a hotel. We had a good day, incredible natural scenery even with wind and light rain.

Day 8: August, 21  Day of the in Dublin, Irland    Distance: Walking aroun the city :)

Day of rest in Dublin, Ireland -  Distance: Walking around the city on foot.

Day 9: August, 22  Dublin, Irland - Port Laoise     Distance: 107.4 Km

We left the Hotel in Dublin at 10:00 am and rode through the wonderful Phoenix park, a great urban park of Dublin. Then, we then took small roads through the small towns of Newcastle, Rathcolle, Kilteel, Punchestown, Curragh, Kildare and final final stop of the day at Portlaoise, a lovely country town situated in the South Midlands in the province of Leinster.

We spent the night today at a nice quiet campsite in Portlaoise.

Day 10: August, 23  Port Laoise - Limerick    Distance: 110.6 Km

We left the Portlaoise campsite at about 11:00am and cycled inland on not too scenic and uninteresting roads. We had arrived at 7pm in the city of Limerick which is located on the River Shannon in the province of Munster. On the river Shannon we saw a beautiful pedestrian bridge (The Living Bridge) it is a link to the University and County Clare

We stayed at the Ship Hotel and after dinner we walked around the city.It was a pretty city but very beautiful was Limerick's medieval quarter, King John's Castle

Day 11: August, 24  Limerick - Tralee in County Kerry    Distance: 100.1 Km

We left the Ship hotel at 10:30 AM and cycled on low traffc roads through Curates Forest, Foynes, Tarbert, Listowel and on to the charming town of Tralee in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. Definitely cycling day of heavy rain we definitely didn't go camping we were too wet and stayed in a  B&B.

Day 12: August, 25  Tralee in County Kerry - Waterville    Distance: 86.6 Km

We left the b&b around 9:30am and today we cycled on the light traffic road to Waterville, the only seafront village on the well known Ring of Kerry.

This coastal stretches "Ring of Kerry" is a scenic route that takes you on a circular route (179 km) around the entire Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry in South Western Ireland. It passes through some of the most beautiful countryside, coast village, lush green woodlands, lakes, rugged mountains rugged coastal dominated by the green pastures and the colorful seaside of the Atlantic Ocean.

Today we had a problem with my bicycle saddle I was able to use temporary without using the saddle, a different way of pedaling but I got a replacement bolts from lawnmower shop.

Although it was a day of cloudy alternating between rain and cloudy, very little sun, the landscapes were still beautiful and the green of the pastures had a stronger color and the sky was a bit foggy where it didn't allow me to take many photographs, however very Handsome!

We finished in Waterville where we slept in a nice campsite.

Day 13:  August, 26  Waterville  -  Killarney    Distance: 97.4 Km

We left campsite Fermoy intorno le 11:00 Am e abbiamo Continued on Ring of Kerry to Kenmare. Then inland via lakes to Killarny.

Today I had to position the saddle on my bike but it was fixed very well! It was a day spent on a bicycle under a more colorful sky without rain surrounded by incredible scenery, endless number of scenic spots and historical sites.

No camping this evening but we stayed in a lovely b&b in the charming town of th Killarney located on the shores of Lough Leane in the south west of County Kerry.

Day 14: August, 27  Killarney - Fermoy    Distance: 99.6 Km

We left campsite Waterville at about 11:00 Am and we continued on Ring of Kerry to Kenmare. Then inland via lakes to Killarny.

Today I had to position the saddle on my bike but it was fixed very well! It was a day spent on a bicycle under a more colorful sky without rain surrounded by incredible scenery, endless number of scenic spots and historical sites.

No camping this evening but we stayed in a lovely b&b in the charming town of th Killarney located on the shores of Lough Leane in the south west of County Kerry.

Day 15: August, 28  Fermoy - Waterford    Distance: 98.3 Km

We left our campsite at Fermoy around 12:00 AM and passed the small towns of Lismore, Dungarvan and arrived at he city of Waterford. It is situated in County Waterford in the south-east area of Ireland.

Unfortunately today one of the bicycles inner tube was punctured twice; it wasn't a big problem and the repair was resolved quickly and then since it was a non-rainy day we didn't get wet!

We stayed in a cozy B&B tonight a Waterford.

Day 16: August, 29  Waterford  -  Rosslare Harbor  and ship to Le Havre, France    Distance: 65.3 Km

We left the B&B at Waterford around 11:00 AM and we took the ferry at Passage East to Arthurstown and a short 15 minute sail across to the small village of Arthurstown. It is situated in the town of Coleman in southwest County Wexford. We then continued to Murntown, Johnston Castle with a constant strong wind ahead and a very bright sunny day having arrived in Rosslare Harbor at 2:40 PM.

We were very lucky that there was a ship at 5 PM, but unlucky that we didn't find a cabin available and had to settle for a seat in a good sized armchair!

Then, we discovered that only once a week there was a ship leaving from this port. It was just pure coincidence and therefore WOAH how lucky we could have embarked on this connection which took us to Le Havre, France.

The voyage to Le Havre was with very rough seas, very high waves, and wind and we didn't expect to "dance" instead we really danced and it was difficult to stand up and I (who generally don't suffer from seasickness) and many other people were bad, fortunately they were equipped with bags!

Generally ships are equipped with stabilizers that allow you to keep the ships fairly still even in rough seas but not in our case! Oh well! After a sailing duration of approximately 20h 14m we arrived at the port of Le Havre located on the northern coast of France, where the Seine joins the English Channel.

Day 17: August, 30  Le Havre, France  - Le Havre, France    Distance: 4.3 Km

After long hours of navigation we had arrived at the important cross-Channel - to the port of Le Havre at 15:00 pm. From here we cycled again for just only 4.3 Km and then we stayed at the Hotel in Le Havre.iLe Havre is a port city at the mouth of the Seine, on the English Channel in the region of Upper Normandy in France.

Day 19: September, 01  Rouen - Mousseau    Distance: 86.1 Km

After leaving our Hotel in Rouen we followed Seine river on the small back roads "Yellow D roads" which took us through beautiful pretty landscapes to arrive at Mousseaux La Seine. Its is a riverside town in the Seine. We stayed in a nice hotel in Mousseau.

Day 18: August, 31   Le Havre - Rouen    Distance: 91.5 Km

After having a good breakfast at the Hotel in Le Havre and happily spending hours today on our bikes and again putting on miles, yes! We followed the Seine along a nice, very flat road with a tailwind and by the end of the day we had arrived in Rouen. This city on the Seine is located in northern France. We stayed and dined in a hotel in Rouen.

Day 20: September, 02  Mousseau - Paris    Distance: 74 Km

We left our nice hotel at 10:00 am in Mousseau. We cycled the Via Mantes route, Meulan, St. Germain, Nanterre and for the last stop of the day we arrived in the heart of the city of Paris. We passed in front of the Centre Georges-Pompidou, often called Beaubourg, home to Europe's largest collection of modern and contemporary art. Then we cycled with views of the river Seine as it flows right through the heart of Paris.

Day 21:September, 03  Paris - Day of City Sightseeing    Distance: Walking

Today tourist day we walked all day in Paris seeing here and there many attractions in the city.

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