France by Bicycle | PART 10: THE VELODYSEE: LA VENDEE

We begin Chapter 10 of our French cycling tour with a lovely early morning ride into Fromentine, where a Saturday market awaits. Back on La Velodysee, a few miles on forested paths, and suddenly we’re back on the coast, where we pass through one sunny resort town after another. Continuing on Eurovelo 1, we ride through the salt marshes of the Olonnes, and meet a videographer who tells us all about how they extract the sea salt from the marshes. Lots of ocean, beaches, forests, and great people. We’re having a lovely time on our bike tour of France!
Music:
Accordion and Glockenspiel Comedy - JK Productions
Pond Five
081716572-accordion-and-glockenspiel-com
a href="www.pond5.com/royalty-free-mu..."Stock Music/a provided by JK_Production, from a href=“www.pond5.com/"Pond5/a
Hidden Track - Staffan Carlen
Epidemic Sound
Rainy Birthday - Aluvio
Epidemic Sound
So Long Yesterday - Coma Svensson
Epidemic Sound
The Carousel Twins - Luella Gren
Epidemic Sound
Unbroken Spirit - Sunfish Grove
Epidemic Sound
Anten Before Dawn - Candellion
Epidemic Sound
Infinite Rings - Lama House
Epidemic Sound

[@Biking360]

You guys are living the life. Visiting some awesome places, staying in great hotels, and eating in nice restaurants. If that is paradise I don't know what is. Makes up for some of those tough days when you rode across America and ended up sleeping in a tent in a car park!! I love cycling for all these crazy varied days.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

You know Jay, I think it's the gamble you take, the fact that it's real and you might end up in a car park, that makes it all so alive. I know at some point I'll get too old for this, but sure hope to make many of these memories before I need a guaranteed easy time of it.

[@Biking360]

@@TheBicycleTourists I couldn't agree more. The unpredictability, even on the shite days, makes it addictive.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Absolutely.

[@michelesauret7779]

Roland, your voice is very nice, warm and sweet...🙄😁

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Aww thank you, Michéle! You are so kind.

[@sergemilaire3474]

Wonderful, as always. Thank you for treating us with a bit of paradise.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Serge! It's become a passion to share this stuff.

[@sergemilaire3474]

When I was younger and busy raising our family, my father's would be enthusiastic in recounting his long distance bike rides thru the USA, France, Australia and Canada. Watching you and Julianna as you ride and express your love of riding has made me realize why he was so passionate about life on his bike. Thanks again.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

And when he was touring it was probably a lot harder to do. No cellphones, GPS, decent outdoor equipment, none of that. But, yeah, it's something that really inspires passion for sure. Thank you so much for sharing that, love it!

[@garyseckel295]

So look forward to, and so enjoy your tours! Thank you both for sharing!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

So glad you are there watching, Gary! Thank you!

[@Wiltshirelocal]

I just adore your videos,they capture everything I love about bike touring. I really respond to the emotion and love that is obvious - even on the tough days. My hat is doffed. If you ever tour UK let me know and I will spin a few miles in your wonderful company. You inspire me guys and you are a reminder that human beings are essentially kind and warm beings. Big love.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Wow, thank you Steve! I hope we get out to the UK, would love to do some version of the LEJOG or maybe an east-west tour of some sort. In which case we will definitely reach out. I agree that bike touring is so good for the soul: lets you live in the here and now, and shows you the kindness and goodness of people. Something we need a lot of these days!

[@colinwellman9480]

I totally agree with you about Saint-Jean-de-Monts, the stretch of sandy beach is very nice but a very nondescript place. We stay away as it's heaving with holiday makers in July and August. You passed through the edge of Saint-Gilles-Croix -de-Vie and missed the pretty part near the church. You'd need a lot longer to see everything along your route so unavoidable. When I saw the shot of the yellow navigational bouy where you had lunch, I realised you'd stopped just opposite where we own a small house facing the sea. The restaurant is very new and gets taken away at the end of the season as it would be destroyed by the huge gales if not. We don't get to use the house in summer as it's rented as an Airbnb. When we do it's heartwarming to see whole families on loaded bikes off for an adventure somewhere. Las Sables d'Olonne is very popular, especially with the Parisians and there are some really nice restaurants there but it can be very crowded and a place we avoid. That seemed a bit of a slog, winds are worse than hills as it doesn't give you a break. Thanks once again for a pleasant 25 minutes watching the video.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Hey Colin! You're right about Saint-Gilles-Croix -de-Vie: it's unavoidable that you miss things along the way. But you also discover things you didn't know existed, so maybe it all evens out. I don't do a ton of research, just make sure the route is reasonably safe and the area seems interesting, and then its all discovery and surprise. Still, it would've been nice to know that you might've been at home there and we could've dropped in to say hi! Cheers!

[@HackHunter1835]

The best Chapter yet. After watching this, my weekend rails to trails rides seem so underwhelming. I hope you guys do a USA tour again, is it probable or unlikely?

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I'm dying to do another cross country tour and would do it again at a drop of a hat. Julianna, not so much. We'll see! Not this year.

[@PumpkinVillage]

All I can say is you do a beautiful job with these videos. Those bike paths thru the woods were awesome. It seems that you had a pretty good balance of city and country. Also an education of gathering salt from the channels. So interesting. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks Al. On a bike tour you go slow enough to really get some understanding of where you are. The salt marshes were indeed an education, so much to discover in this world!

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

Glad you got a chance to see these salt marshes. As you can imagine, they are only a few feet above sea level at low tide and fill up when the tide comes in (there’s a system of locks, once filled the water stays trapped). When the level of the Atlantic will rise (no if) these marshes will be almost permanently submerged and the fragile clay dams will go. The only unknown is, how long before that happens?

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I hope this doesn't come out wrong, but all the more treason to get out and see the world. Before it changes too much. On all of our tours we see the negative effects of climate change. Its so discouraging.

[@lindahowes5949]

The best way to take a beach vacation is bicycling beside it! Perhaps Selina’s Celtic Sea Salt is harvested in those salt ponds as it’s from the coast of France. 😊 Hoping you recovered quickly from your cold! Gorgeous scenery and weather. The outdoor markets sure are a nice treat to find.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Love riding alongside water, lakes, rivers, canals, and definitely, oceans! I would guess the salt comes from around here, tons of salt harvesting through this stretch. We were definitely blessed with both scenery and weather.

[@charlesdgrinstead2114]

I especially liked this section of your trip. My wife and I used to vacation often in the NW corner of Brittany. But, our last vacation in France was in Bourgenay, only about 15 km south of Les Sables-d'Olonne. Many of the places you filmed as you rode by, I've ridden by myself. I found Les Sables-d'Olonne nice, but the smaller villages outside the city were much nicer.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I agree, this was a very nice bit of France, not the one you necessarily think of when you think of France. Thanks for watching!

[@e-BikeLife]

10:57 Can not go wrong with Orangina, my wife's favorite. That's all she drinks when we are there. She doesn't drink alcohol. Ok... my 6'8" would never be happy in that height challenged place. That was quite the welcoming committee at that boulangerie. Do all patron get that welcome? Or, just world famous KZbin cycle tourists? Your observation about holiday styles is so on point. My sister and her husband have time shares on Maui and Cancun and always go to the same place. Jo, my wife, and I, cannot imagine that as we are rarely in one place for more than a couple of days at a time, though we did spend a week in Avignon in 2019 as there is so much to see in the town and the surrounding villages. Did you guys ever stop to have ice cream at the shops called Amorino? They have some of the best we've ever tasted! Just discovered they have expanded to the US. Though why they chose Ft Worth and Houston for two of their locations, I'll never understand. Until next week, à bientôt.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Orangina is absolutely a treat. This wasn't the only place we stayed where I repeatedly whacked my head on the beams. I don't remember Amorino shops, now I have a reason to return! Yeah, here in Colorado many people get a place up in the mountains, a cabin or a condo in the ski towns. I feel like, when we're on a vacation, we want to be somewhere new. We're still into discovery more than relaxation.

[@e-BikeLife]

@@TheBicycleTourists Absolutely! As mentioned in earlier comments, we are going to be in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and cycling along the Mosel and Rhine Rivers. With the exception of Amsterdam and some of the small towns along the Mosel, it is all new territory, and the anticipation is growing. Just a little worried that Jo's knees are not going to be ready for it all in just 3 months time. They have come so far and are improving, but, it's always the last 20% that goes the slowest when recuperating.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yep. On our last two tours, we weren't sure if Julianna would do okay as she's had hand surgery the last two winters. Neither of us trained at all before crossing the US or circling France. And yet, once we started riding, everything was fine. Are you expecting to do a lot of elevation gain? And since its on e-bikes does that reduce the strain on her knees? I always try to remember that we're lucky to be able to do this, many people our age couldn't dream of doing this stuff.

[@e-BikeLife]

@@TheBicycleTourists Very good point. Sometimes I look at others our age and can’t believe we are the same age. We will definitely not be putting in the mileage you guys do and the terrain along the rivers is mostly flat. For us, e-bikes became a necessity. Back in the 90’s I was involved in a hit and run that left me with a lower spinal cord injury that has impacted the strength in my left leg.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I'm sorry to hear that. In the end we all have to ride our own ride. You've done well to accommodate your own challenges. I love e-bikes, anything that helps people get out and get active is a great thing in my book.

[@eff6582]

Bonjour, Always a great pleasure to see you along Atlantic. Just one question: are there similar bike lanes along the ocean in the usa? Merci

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you! It depends on where and on which coast. On the west coast I've seen some in Washington and heard of some in southern California, but mostly no. Mostly, it's less populated and wilder, with only a road along the coast, and if I understand correctly, rarely a shoulder. On the east coast I think there is more, since there is a lot more population, but I have not ridden the coast. Sorry to not be of much help here.

[@lesleykenwood2715]

When replenishing water, are you finding spigots in every town?

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

You needn’t worry with spigots. Anywhere in Europe, just knock, randomly, on any house’s front door or push **any** business door and somebody will fill your bottles with tap water, sometimes with mineral water, even. No language skills needed, just show your empty open bottles upside down, stick tongue out, body language: you’re thirsty, everybody will understand. ;-)

[@TheBicycleTourists]

We never had an issue with water, found spigots or business with water whenever we needed it. In the states we've had to knock on doors in farm country, but there always is a way to get water when you're resourceful!

[@dondonner1095]

A couple of episode ago you stopped into the second bike shop to get julianna's wheel looked at. What developed there? Looks like they may have fixed it. Great video again.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Little fixes here and there. As of this episode she's still looking for a new bike, something more tour-ready with better climbing gears and a wider wheelbase.

[@tomm8660]

So.... How were the fajitas?!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

They were...good. But certainly not like fajitas at all. If I don't get a good plate of Mexican food every few days I miss it, and even though you'll see taco fast food restaurants here, they aren't anything like Mexican food. Oh well. Lots of other incredible dishes here to enjoy!

[@kamaldhesi]

What panniers bags you ?use

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Ortlieb Backrollers and Frontrollers.

[@bwilsonduncan]

13:20 ... called "salt pans" en anglais

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes, I believe I’ve heard that term before. Thanks for the info!