European Tour – My First Week in France | Episode 1

This is the first video from my trip into Europe that I set off on last week. I have two months free, and I have deliberately embarked on this trip without any set plans of where I want to go and what I want to do, I have instead just loaded up my campervan with hiking and biking gear so that I can explore the countries I visit in a variety of different ways.

My general plan is to head south, and that is what I did in this video. I am making slow progress, which is just what I wanted. In this video I take it easy in the first couple of days as I settle into van/home for the next couple of months, before finding some really lovely locations for day rides out on my Kona Sutra.

I hope you all enjoyed the video, it is something a bit different for me, but I am really finding a nice routine with the trip now, and I am looking forward to many more amazing hikes and rides over the coming weeks.

Thank you for watching.

Links

Ride from Lyons La Foret
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1459892554?ref=aso&share_token=aWwNovFPWzsLrNpU2EdCq2A51pxm2NOwlmZ0YRlEysEyt3GDEg

Ride from Montreuil-bellay
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1464380297?ref=aso&share_token=awm87MaUPnfVjYRlZVj8YphUyMGtJKNCxjEd3X5uRDFl3Z4j2a

So I’m on my way my European van trip begins aside from tonight I have no idea where I’m going for the whole trip and I have two months put aside purposefully trying not to plan everything out like I usually do just see how I feel so I’ve got my bike

With me so I’m going to definitely get some bike rides in some hikes should be interesting this is completely new to me usually I have everything planned out meticulously And I stress if I haven’t so I am stressed but I’m going to force myself to get over it

So I’m at the first stop meront this is right by the beach apparently so I’m going to have wander down see what I can see everywhere’s closed it’s a Sunday and a quiet town There’s a CRP brief I’m trying to eat well on this trip it’s a good thing

That there were no places open because I have dehydrated meals which I made there might be a little Montage of me making these so I should be using these I mean I made these so I could eat them when I’m out this is curry I might do a spaghetti bnise

Actually but it’ll be one of these anyway get it boiling and then simmer it 20 minutes and booked in here for one night I’m thinking about trying to book in here for tomorrow night just because having gone for a little walk earlier it looks like a really nice little area and

There’s a nice Town up the road called Le 2K um at the moment I can’t book it for tomorrow I don’t know whether I don’t know why but I’ll try again tomorrow if not I’ll book somewhere nearby I’ve just had a bit of a tidy up the van was in a

Bit of a mess just cuz last minute throwing everything in I used the top bunk here for shelves so I can put all my hiking and bike stuff in and I’ve still got an area where I can sit up it’s all one big experiment done now tweet it so that’s it going to

Do that then go to bed I think see you tomorrow morning day two I had a great night really good night so comfortable I bought a new latex mattress for the van it made a huge difference to the bed in here so today I’m thinking of going for

A bike ride or a hike cuz I’m close to a place called epples how would you pronounce it anyway it’s a nice little uh looking town and it has a military cemetery which I know I want to visit this decided to go for a walk to a tapler I’m

Going to guess it’s a tap a tapler a tapler that sounds French bad I know let’s see if I can get a Royale with cheese I know I shouldn’t I was speaking to my mom and she said she saw my last video and she could tell I put on quite

A bit of weight and I checked I’ve put on 42 since I got back from the gdmbr so I’m just over 14 Stone which is quite a lot and it would be concerning but it’s like my mom said it’ll all go again later in the year on the traman I’ve got

42 LB of energy ready for July the 22nd which is when I fly over to Portland Oregon to start my TransAm ride I can’t wait it’s going to be awesome I just know it is is I’m back in mermont thought I’d come out and see if

I can find a shop that’s open and I haven’t but I’ve got soup and stuff I go shopping tomorrow this is where I’m at a camping car park it’s busy but that’s what I wanted Leon’s Al foret probably not pronounced that way but that’s where I am for two nights now awesome

Place really is very beautiful wow I need a shop though Focus m so easily distracted shops open up for couple of hours to kill this is unusual for me I’m going to find out whether I can actually relax there’s nothing I can do I have no jobs to do nothing to

Plan can I relax I guess I’m going to find out Well that killed a good 10 15 minutes so success got to the shop it wasn’t huge but I got what I needed eggs olives some ham to go with my mushroom Curry tonight coffee oh beans i b coffee beans Muppet and got a grinder pom fruits and just two beers not bad

That’ll do keep me going for tonight and then uh I think I’m going to I am going to make a point of going to a proper supermarket that was good it was not bad so it looks like the weather’s going to hold off I think it might be a couple of showers

But nothing bad so I’m definitely going to get on the bike today I mean part of the reason of this trip is to get plenty of bike riding in in preparation for the trans am and it’s just more interesting than riding around the same old streets in Britain I think

There’s some interesting things to see around here I’ve got a 40ish mile route planned out I may extend that depending on how I feel but I haven’t really ridden for a while so that’s probably enough to be honest we’re out feels like ages since I’ve been on

The bike properly anyway this is uh started off nice and I imagine it’s going to carry on that way patchy Cloud bit of sun now and then very cool place the bike feels good I like these tires already I can tell it’s going to be a good

Day quick stop for a flat Jack I’m in a place called quisquis I think e c o u i s and this here is the collegial nraam I’m sorry France for the abysmal pronunciation Andre labasque I recognize that picture I do so I’m in Le andelise this is the river

S and that was shatow a Gard I imagine it’s pronounced at the top of this hill I love the sun I’ve missed it Britain has been so rainy and miserable forever I’m in danger of getting a sunburn which is fantastic bring it on come on go very cool don’t know what that

Was I need energy I’m going to stop here have a quick snack I was just going to have a snack and I noticed this thing ruin of some sort I thought I come and have a look and see where it is it’s an old Abby bris closed that other place

Just down the road that we came past earlier on the water was a spinning Mill Neo Gothic spinning Mill built in 1855 where it burnt down bit over the top for a spinning Mill but if you’re going to do it do it I suppose first ride to the Trap was a nice one

Really good Route 47 miles really good I really enjoyed it the roads here just incredible and very quiet so maybe it’s just this area I don’t know but it was uh it was a nice ride so now I think I’m going to nip to that little shop in the town get myself

Something nice and then crash out for the evening tomorrow I don’t know where I’m going no idea but I know it’ll be South right time to be bold and navigate the inter Marche I struggle enough with British supermarkets I am literally the only person here not much of a site but it

Doesn’t matter this is just a an in between day anyhow that’s me done for the day so I’ll probably see you tomorrow now hopefully tonight I’ll find a nice interesting ride or hike let’s see perect perfect little shop to come across now to run back not very far couple of Miles 2.4

Miles so I’m aware I switch between miles and kilometers but don’t blame me blame Britain I read this pan a raising get changed and get to leemon I suppose so this is an air I’m not going to stay here tonight but this is where I’m going

To park for today and this is exactly what I wanted it’s full more or less lots of people around so I don’t have to worry about the van Lemon’s cathedral built between the 6th and 15th centuries took a long time very Gothic very cool hanini Pizza traybon this is a good one like that one what he done that was interesting but I’m all citied out I head back to the van get my parking

Place for tomorrow work at a ride for tomorrow although unfortunately it looks like it’s going to rain you never know it might change so that ends day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 6 day six I’ve been out here for six days already I would say it’s been a success I’m really enjoying it

So I might have to adjust my plans tomorrow but I was just going to sign off by saying that um I’ve been thinking I can’t treat this like a holiday it’s not it’s just like life isn’t it but more interesting I suppose so tomorrow looks like it is going to rain all day

But I have things to do I’m probably going to do a couple of reviews for my review Channel and paperwork and stuff so yeah stuff I’d do if I was at home and it was raining so goodbye I’ll see you tomorrow so Saturday morning it’s a bit of a dull

Rainy day we knew it was going to be what I’m going to do is uh drive to a different Park up tonight and there’s a nice ride from the next one I’ll be ready for that tomorrow morning I’m at a place called montro B I think

Yeah it’s about 100 miles south of where I was this morning I’ve learned that I like the traveling I like the driving I like the hiking I like the cycling yesterday was all right lemon that was interesting I’m glad I did it saw the cathedral had a look around but I just

Like moving this is what this trip is all about it’s just moving I’m just working my way further south and I get a kick out of I get a buzz from it so this is what it’s all about so this place is amazing a beautiful little town I’ll

Have a look later I’ll probably go for a little walk um there’s a ride a really nice ride which Ross has found for me no surprise he always does that I will hopefully do tomorrow if not the day after but I got a feeling I’m going to

Stay here for a couple of days at least I’m on a free municipal site perfect I mean it’s it’s just such a nice little Tower I’m so glad I came I made the right choice I’ve got some shopping I’ve gone completely French got pan of raisins I’ve got crackers Chutney a selection of

Cheeses and a half bottle of wine notice a half bottle of wine because I’m a terrible binge drinker so if I bought a full bottle I’d drink a full bottle and then say goodbye to tomorrow’s ride as it is with half a bottle I’ve probably got a good

Chance nice Misty morning it’s supposed to be nice today as well the sun’s going to come out probably midday I’ll be on my way by then but I’m looking forward to my bike ride today got to get ready every morning I have a routine I have my

Coffee my only coffee of the day now I have one a day amazingly um and I answer comments the ones for this new video the gdmbr movie video are just insane I can’t tell you how positive they all are so thanks to everyone who who has commented thanks to anyone who comments

On anything it’s awesome and I love it I don’t have to rush out today this ride is about 35 miles I might extend it a little bit I suppose but um I don’t know we’ll see and there’s a good hike from here which I might do tomorrow as well

It’s a lovely spot it’s just such a beautiful place and this is a free s they want you in France this is what I’ve learned every one of these little Villages they want camper fans they want you here and of course I’m going to go into the town and spend some money and

It makes sense we’re out the campsite was right on the route which is good so I think it’s about 33 Mi 34 let’s see what we can see I’m anticipating a nice ride it’s cold but there is a bit of Sun so that’s nice definitely hot enough to take the legs

Off sorry to Dazzle you with these guaranteed pasty white legs I’m going to do that actually I think if I just have one leg off then um probably get the right balance I’m going have this snack as well 8 miles in it’s been a lovely ride so far Nea qu bed the

Root and exploded bombs in the area I mean seriously definitely not going to quit larut I’m at font Abbey really cool place there’s a necropolis over there where Elena of aquatan is buried she was buried in 1204 she was the only person to be the queen of England and France at

The same time and she’s also buried there with Richard the lionhart who was her son so I thought I’d come in got to have a look haven’t you it was made in 11:01 this place was also when it was made the biggest community of contemplative nuns now I’ll confess I don’t know what

Other types of nuns there are maybe non- contemplative ones NS that just don’t bother thinking and then in 1804 after 700 years of nuns running around the place contemplating things they were all kicked out by Napoleon who turned the whole thing into a prison of course he did excellent place really enjoyed that

Time to go though time for the second of these coming up to a part of the trail apparently there’s tunnels that have been carved into the cliffs troyes they call them it’s a trite Trail but they were from the stones all the houses around here were carved from those

Stones and then people used to live in these tunnels it was a cheap cheap way of living hence people called trites I knew I needed gravel tires these tires are really impressed me actually they’re good on the road I haven’t really had much gravel but they look like they’re going to be

Good very pleased WTB radlers yeah rers so that is the lair river which would make sense cuz I’m in the lair Valley I think we’re about 3/4 of the way through this ride it’s been really good so far samur another Shadow there are shadows everywhere it seems h H what to

Do I could just take my shoes and socks off and Wade through depends how deep it is I’ll let you know thankfully it’s dry up here got off lightly there warming up now it’s 20 to 5 I can’t believe it’s taking me this long I mean there’s so

Much to see really I’m not showing you everything if I showed you every shadow it’ be midnight by now very beautiful place obviously the link to this ride will be in the description so if you did want to do it you can so there done 35 miles took ages just so

Much to see I mean France for bike riding so far is just incredible really really impressive so I’m happy I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow but I don’t need to know I’ll see how I feel in the morning I think this might be the end of the video

If it is thank you for watching tomorrow I said earlier I think I don’t know what I’m doing yet I’m going to wait until the morning to decide so yes that’s it I’ll call it a night watching YouTube Ste sticks fix it’s just this guy and he fixes broken electronic equipment I have

No interest in electronic equipment and fixing it but I’m kind of binge watching his channel watching everything he does it’s funny I think it’s just relaxing for me I can it’s therapeutic I’m watching him take something broken and fix it and uh he’s very good right I’ll see you tomorrow or the next

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