France by Bicycle | PART 20: ADVENTURES ALONG THE MED

A fabulous sunrise over Cap d’Agde and a breakfast on the terrace looking over the Mediterranean starts our day. We spend a bit of time on the beach, dipping our toes in the water and enjoying the sun before we go back to the hotel for our bikes and luggage. Then we follow the seaside path to Sète, latticed with canals and lovely architecture. A good part of the afternoon is spent in the sand, at the local beach. In the morning we leave the city, along lovely natural parks and marshes and waterways, where to our delight we discover flamingos, in abundance and on full display. What a treat! We find a pleasant beach to enjoy before resuming our trip eastward, through the bizarre and delightful resort of La Grande Motte with its unique architecture and sixties vibe. Then we reach Le Grau du Roi, finding a nice beachfront hotel and a satisfying Italian meal. Tomorrow we head inland to the Rhone and Arles.
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
The Nymphaeum Part III - Angelwing
www.freemusicpublicdomain.com...
Parisian Cafe - Aaron Kenny
KZbin-AudioLibrary
A Pinch of Salt - Headlund
Epidemic Sound
Affectionate Writing - Howard Harper-Barnes
Epidemic Sound
Two Birds - Stafan Carlen
Epidemic Sound
French Connection - Medite
Epidemic Sound

[@dondonner1095]

What could be more fun on a Friday afternoon than watching Flamingos being filmed by two GOAT'S.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

There can only be one goat, that would have to be Julianna!

[@dondonner1095]

Let's call it a tie.

[@HackHunter1835]

Words to live by, "be kind to everyone" If only more people would embrace those words. When you reach retirement, thats a reward. The bike tours you take, thats icing on the cake. I know you guys call this a bike tour, it really seems more like a vacation on 2 wheels. Not sure why i drink wine while watching your videos. It seems fitting for the occasion lol

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Somehow our society needs to find that kindness again. Decency, consideration, empathy. Its in short supply sadly.

[@nyounes1]

Best Friday night cinema with my lovely cousin and her beau. Miss you two ❤! Victor and I are off next week to bike around Freiburg, Germany. Wish you were here and we were all on 2 wheels together again!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

We've been thinking a lot about next year's trip. Lots to get excited about!

[@juliannahenley4921]

Soon! Netherlands hopefully next year!

[@belladrayven]

Wow! A flock of flamingos is a Flamboyance! Thank you! As I have never heard of that one before :) Got a little teary eyed with the beach scenes and the lovely music. I love watching all your adventures and both of your gentle sweet voices.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Ahhh thanks Izabella! Yeah, a flamboyance! Cool name! Makes sense.

[@PumpkinVillage]

Learn something about flamingos every day!! Beautiful riding and scenery. Be kind is a good mantra to live by. Thanks for another outstanding chapter of your adventure. Take care, Al

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yeah, the flamingos were such a treat. Thanks for your company, Al!

[@westpacificmarketanalytics2384]

Thank you again, love my weekly bike ride with you two gem of people!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank YOU, having you along is what its all about!

[@silasbanjo]

Thank both for these hugely enjoyable videos ! We have so enjoyed tagging along on your travels . You have done such a good job on the whole production, they are so watchable . Love your gentle commentary and observations along the way , this series should be much more popular ! We are from Cornwall in the UK and are off to the Loire in just a couple of weeks along with our bikes and a little trailer for the doggie…..so excited and your Accordion and Glockenspiel comedy is fast becoming our theme tune ! One last observation…it seems that when you first came on your Heart of Europe tour you looked well equipped with ‘proper ‘ cycling wear but by the time your cycling through France it’s all flowery shirts and pretty dresses ! Thank you both !

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Silas! How awesome to have the Loire to look forward to. Yeah, when we started bike touring we just used our road bike "kits" but eventually felt that more normal clothes seems to work better on these less athletic and more social rides. By the way, love that banjo groove. Enjoy France!

[@DBusch-ks7jg]

I’m envious, I would really love to do this!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I hope you can make it word someday! You would truly love it!

[@garyseckel295]

Interesting segment. Never aware of those strangely different, ovalized structures before.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Are you referring to the buildings in the resort? I was fascinated by the architecture here. Weird and beautiful.

[@garyseckel295]

@@TheBicycleTourists Yes. Resort buildings were very different!

[@dougmckinney7575]

Nooooo! Don’t say you are near the end. Such a great trip and series. You two need to lead some tours. 😊

[@TheBicycleTourists]

No. We are NOT near the end! Still have a long(ish) ride up the Rhone to go!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I think leading tours would be a blast!

[@dougmckinney7575]

Oh, good! I thought I heard in the video that “we are nearing the end of the trip” whew, close one! Lol.

[@cjlmoni]

Merci d'avoir si bien filmé et résumé ma belle région. Bonne continuation à vous deux. Au plaisir de vous revoir chez nous. Bon vent.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

C'était notre plaisir! Nous adorons vos magnifiques paysages!

[@TerrapinCyclist]

Your music choices always set the mood wonderfully. I imagine you spend quite a bit of time on this. Also, your mixing/ducking/compression (whats the right term?) skills are excellent. Music and narration blend seamlessly without any jarring volume changes. Such a pleasure to listen to. -John

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you John! It's been a process, and the sound has been the toughest part to learn. When you record while riding, there is a lot of background noise that can really make it difficult. I appreciate you noticing!

[@RichardWright3450]

Egrets! Them were the birds. Probably French cattle egrets, but, possibly Great White Egrets - hard to tell at that distance. Always nice to see. Once again Sat morning coffee with my two favorite inspiring cyclists. What a ride. Sorry about the food. Disappointing for sure. But your journey is spectacular and draws me toward even more cycling. Thanks

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I'm so glad this draws you toward more cycling! That's what it does for us as well!

[@eff6582]

Bonjour Beautiful end ton the Mediterranean, where the way of life is different from the North

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes it is, we so enjoyed getting a taste of some of France's many regions!

[@dennispiciullo8060]

It's coming to an end one more video! Wonder what your next adventure will be, I can't wait!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Hey Dennis! No, we have several more chapters left. Maybe 8 more chapters? Still cooking up ideas for the next trip, probably a few shorter ones this year, being a bit more flexible this year.

[@dennispiciullo8060]

@@TheBicycleTourists really, that's awesome, I glad!

[@markclemens3409]

The coast of Langue d'Oc is for ordinary folks, unlike the overpriced, overcrowded but lovely Riviera. I'm glad you finally found a good restaurant. If you get another crack at this corner of France, you should visit Montpellier. It's a beautiful and lively city.

[@nyounes1]

LOVE Montpellier for food, art, music and charm. We once rode from there to Séte on a brief day ride and saw the flamingoes too!

[@lindahowes5949]

Nice bike paths and very interesting architecture. I hope we’ll hear more about it. The flamingos were such a treat. Thanks for making our Friday nights special! 💜

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Mark, we wanted to hit Montpelier, but so many places, so little time, blah blah blah. I suppose you have to be okay with the fact that on any trip you miss more than you see!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Linda, that resort looked a bit like a Dr. Suess illustration. Odd and beautiful. In the US we don't seem to experiment with the architecture as much as they do in other places.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Hey Nadia, I didn't know you rode this stretch. I wonder if we were on the same trail? Aren't those flamingos just amazing?

[@colinwellman9480]

What an interesting place. It looked like the architect was told to go do just whatever takes your fancy! Helmets and what to use on your chain are very contentious issues and one I tend to avoid giving my opinion on. The law insists children under 12 (?) must wear them, after that each to their own choice. I wear one but my wife won't. She calls it my magic hat. If there weren't a million other reasons to visit Italy then the food would be enough. Thanks for the video, your legs must be getting a little tired by now after all those miles.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Colin. Yes, I think we were definitely getting worn out by this point. Still a few episodes to go, thankfully the Rhone Valley is a gentle ride!

[@michelesauret7779]

Was the sea water hot in october ? After the flamingos, did you see the camargue buls and horses ? I Hope in the next chapter you will visit the cities of character Arles and Nîmes ? I love this region

[@TheBicycleTourists]

The water was fine! Certainly swimmable. We did see white horses, although not wild, no buls, and Arles in the next chapter. I'm afraid we missed Nimes. But I agree, a beautiful region.

[@JimJamm18]

Hi guys, really enjoying your journey so far and Your laid back and fun nature. We’re doing France this summer. My GF was interested in Julianna’s cycling shorts. Are they the Bjorn Sthlm bike shorts? And how does Julianna like them? Thanks and keep up the great work!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks JimJamm! Julianna isn't sure of the brand but bought them last year at REI. Enjoy your French journey, you're gonna love it!

[@marktgreene]

I really enjoy your channel. I’m about to embark on a journey of my own and I would love to document it with maps like yours. Would you mind sharing the software you’re using? TIA!!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you! I used photoshop for the maps along with Premiere Pro. Good luck on your journey!

[@marktgreene]

@@TheBicycleTourists Thanks.

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

Salut Roland et Julianna, Pffffffffff ! ( elongated exhale) relieved that this leg of your journey went OK (was fearing the worse). Worth noting @6:19 the inevitable couple of m*r*ns walking on the cycle path rather than on the wide section allocated for pedestrians, presumably because the cycle path tarmac is smoother. Before anybody said, But the cycle path was empty, they had no way of knowing if a pack of fast roadies isn’t arriving behind them. Between selfish walkers, runners with the compulsory earphones (no point using your bell, they won’t hear you), prams pushed by athletic young parents on roller blades, dogs on 10 foot long leash, parents checking their FB on their phones, rather than keeping an eye on their toddlers ... the list goes on, no wonder you came across grumpy cyclists. French have “spaffed” (a verb popularized by a former British Prime Minister) brand new cycle lanes *without* providing them with a, metaphorical, instruction leaflet i.e. proper behavior and “etiquette” for users of a common shared space. At some point the cycling infrastructure will be there, it’ll take ages (and crashes, and injuries, and casualties, even) for a safe cycling and cyclists-respectfulness culture to emerge in France. /end rant.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Rant away! I think the problems you speak of are much worse here in the states, at least in our town of Denver. Cyclists seem to disregarded by pedestrians and drivers alike. Somehow we just all gotta get along.

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

I beg to differ, my friend. Didn’t you, yourself, noticed when you were cycling the Loire Valley that *no* other cyclist who overtook you cared to warn you and Julianna with a thoughtful “ Overtaking you on the left !” or simply “ On your left” ? You did, Dear Roland 😉. Relying on my limited experience of cycling in the US, nowhere near to compare with yours, admittedly, there is a “cycle lane etiquette” in the US, at least in California, first hand experience, unknown in France.