Wow, what a couple of days! After the coach marathon we detoured to the Mediterranean for our symbolic wheel dipping. We then decided to do some miles and cycled into the eastern Pyrenees for 40 miles, it was hot! Alan used his Franglais to find a Chambre d' Hotes (translation B&B) it was perfect. The highlight was (after a few beers) Alan asking the 80 year old owner if he had a bicycle. Breakfast was quite an event as well as we made small talk with our ...

Quite an experience getting to the start of our cycle tour, hills to Sheffield, an overnight stop before boarding the coach for a marathon belt south. We munched our way through hours of travel, hours in England to Dover, more food on the ferry and lots of pit stops through the changing French countryside. From very windy and English-like Calais to the warm and Mediterranean south. The overnight "sleep" on the coach is best behind us, we are looking forward to ...

Looking forward to our cycling venture does not summarise how I (Andy, Alan can speak for himself) feel. Words like trepidation describe my mood well, fuelled by thoughts of mountains, the first few days of our trip will be through the Pyrenees for example, gulp. Since Alan suggested this trip, from Perpignan to Caen with a stop over in Tours en route, I have been in training, it has got me fit, but whether fit enough will soon tell. So firstly thanks Alan, that...

Bloody hell another busy day in Verona. Boring art galleries posing as museums, castles, magnificent gardens, this City has them all. We mooch cities constantly and get the feeling that we have "done" all there is for us to do here in Verona. Last day on our jollies tomorrow and only the threatening weather can scupper our plans. We WILL do our best on our last day, try and stop us. Ciao, Liz and Andy

What a great city Verona is. Shakespeare is Verona's best marketing man, Romeo is very secondary to Juliette here, with her "modern" (1928) balcony and her comments wall, Romeo cannot compete, talk about Montagues and Capuletes eh? We had to tour the Colosseum, and (having dodged getting our pictures taken with a pigeon legged centurion) enjoyed the visit. At this time of year nothing of distinction is going on in Verona, we had to choose between Church musi...