Archive for Bike Travel

More Adventures on the Road: Biking the French Alps

By Diane Covington · Comments (2)
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Part 5: Cozy in our hotel in Veyrier du Lac and loving the biking…

The view of the lake from the water taxi

Our demi-pension option at the hotel, which includes two meals per day, is very reasonably priced—120 euros for two, including the room, and the food has been excellent. We’re getting very spoiled—walking downstairs to enjoy a four-course dinner on the terrace, as we watch the sun set over the lake.  After a few days, we feel like part of the family ourselves and have gotten to know the staff and some of the other guests.  I get a chance to practice my French, which is always a treat, though they do speak some English.

On the night of Bastille Day, July 14th, we enjoyed the “feux d’artifice” or fire works show above the lake from Annecy, right from our little balcony.

To get to Annecy, we can take a bus, ride our bikes or take a “water taxi”, which is the most fun option.  Last Friday, July 15, I took the water taxi over to Annecy for the day.  Landon was going on a four-hour grueling bike ride up a mountain. After my bike tour of the lake, I was going to the open market and the spa. Read More→

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Categories : Bike Travel, Destinations, Europe, France
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More Adventures on the Road: Trains, Subways, Bicycles, Feet – and No Automobiles

By Diane Covington · Comments (3)
Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Part two – The Journey in England continues…


The Paddington Bear stories were a favorite with my daughters and now with my grand daughters. Here at Paddington Station, the bear sits ready to be adopted and enjoyed, along with copies of the stories.

July 4, 2011

We’re continuing our journey using only our own steam and public transportation in England and France. So far, so good—a real fun adventure.

In London, with our light bags, we took the tube from our hotel to Paddington Station, then walked to the Brit Rail terminal there to connect to our train for the short jaunt to the quaint village of Henley-on-Thames. My partner Landon, was competing in the Henley Masters rowing regatta.

Standing with my one rolling bag and my carry on, on the train ready to leave for Henley-on-Thames. We'd just been on two subways and walked a ways through the station, so appreciated the light bags.

We settled in for the trip and relaxed– someone else was in charge, our job was to enjoy the beauty of the changing countryside as it unfolded in front of us.

We passed neat farms, quaint villages clustered around a church steeple and fields of bright yellow and purple wild flowers. We read and day dreamed. I relished the ease of the train and the relief from driving.

When we arrived in Henley, we walked the several blocks to our apartment, which overlooked the river. For the next six days, we got around by bicycle or walking.

Having an apartment meant that we could prepare some of our own meals, or make ourselves a cup of coffee or tea. I enjoy shopping in other countries, looking at all the interesting foods and their unique labels, buying fresh fruits and vegetables at the open markets and feeling like a local.

My partner won both of his races and I enjoyed cycling along the Thames or wandering around the quaint village of Henley.

We rested up for a big day of travel on our next jaunt—back to London, then to Paris on the Eurostar and then continuing on to Normandy.

 

 

  • For information on traveling by train in England, visit BritRail.com
  • For information on renting an apartment in England, visit HolidayLettings

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More in this series:
Part One: Arriving in London – but without the luggage
Part Two: The English Countryside and on to Paris

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Categories : Bike Travel, Destinations, Ecotravel, England, Europe, France, Travel Resources
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Soft Pedaling Quebec’s Laurentians: Chuggin’ the P’tite Tren du Nord T-Rail

By The Traveler · Comments (0)
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

A Quebec Cycling Trilogy: Part Three
By Rick Millikan

(This is the third and final installment of a three-part series on bike tours through Quebec, Canada by our resident independent bike tour expert, Rick Milliakan)

Quebec lakesideTravelers of all cycling abilities will find a “magnifique” trail eco-adventure just above Montreal in the Laurentian Valley. My wife Chris and I set out to explore a popular section of a rail to trail-way, enjoying stays at charming B&B’s along the way. The P’tite Tren du Nord ride begins for most in Saint Jerome, at kilometer 0.

At St Jerome’s old station we meet Christian in front of the caboose, his lineal parkway office. As director of maintenance, he assures us our venture is very do-able – as well as fun. “…As our 200-kilometer bikeway averages a mere 2% slope, it’s an easy breezy ride!” he grins. “In an hour or so you’ll be enjoying the linear park’s lower section…”

Leaving other cyclists relaxing at the station bistro or spinning northward, we depart for Labelle by shuttle, where our first stage begins. Above Iroquois Falls on Riviere Rouge stands a bronze statue of Labelle, one of Quebec’s enterprising priests. Father Labelle established the P’tite Tren du Nord in the 1800’s to carry wood to the port of Montreal. Inside Labelle’s train station museum hang photos showing early trainloads of logs and much later, grinning skiers as this region developed into a winter playground. Now cyclists exuberantly tour up and down this converted rail-bed trail, basking in dramatic scenery.

Removing racked rental bikes, our van disappears, delivering baggage to our first B&B. Carrying only bottles of cold water and cameras, we beeline southward through forests of white-barked birch, long-needled bull pines, stately maples and tall firs.

As the countryside opens into plush green pastures dotted with yellow buttercups, I spot some wooly critters. I’d love to take a pastoral photo, but a huge shaggy white sheepdog springs forward, woofing…and his sheepish flock flees. Next, when I see some udderly beautiful brown cows grazing on grassy knolls, I whip out my camera mooing, “Please stay!” Not hot to be shot, they trot. Finally, a brave Bambi stares at us, poses for a few pictures then bounds into the bush.

I pedal and ponder during this peaceful commune with nature, wondering about those early Iroquois who taught the first Europeans how to cultivate corn, squash, beans and generally survive in their new world. Just after French missionaries brought them Christ and French traders exchanged trinkets for furs, the Iroquois vanished.

Signs declaring Les Jardins de L’Achillee Millefeuille and Cyclists Welcome draw us into a rustic B&B along the trail. The smiling owner emerges, proudly telling us about her piece of Eden.  A silvery Buddha statue sits above her flourishing organic garden. Resuming our pedal, we pass its campground complete with teepees.  I wonder…

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Categories : Adventure Travel, Bike Travel, Destinations, Quebec, Travel Ideas, Travel Resources, Travel Stories, Travelogues

Re-cycling Montreal: An Adventure Sans Auto

By The Traveler · Comments (0)
Sunday, December 9th, 2007

A Quebec Cycling Trilogy: Part Two
By Rick Millikan

(This is the second installment of a three-part series on bike tours through Quebec, Canada by our resident independent bike tour expert, Rick Milliakan)

A view of the clock tower at Montreal's Old Port, with the Jacques-Cartier bridge in the background. A favorite vantage point for looking at the annual international fireworks competition, just the other side of the bridge.Rolling our suitcases smoothly past neighborhood bistros to the heritage chateau-style train station, we board Via Rail for a scenic two-hour ride following three glorious days exploring historic Quebec City. We’re now off to investigate Montreal and new bicycle adventures.

After checking into our charming boutique hotel, we walk to the edge of Vieux Port to pick up bikes. Numerous bicycles are secured to parking meters along the way.  Cycling, we suspect, has become a popular way to get to work.

The busy bike shop manager rents us light hybrid bikes, which includes a handlebar pouch, map, lock and icy bottle of water. Pushing our bikes across the boulevard, we mount up and pedal the dockside trail through a 2-kilometer linear park lined with grassy playgrounds, pools and floral gardens.  Nearby stands Pointe-a- Calliere where thirty-five colonists landed to found Montreal in 1642. We’ll return later to visit its archaeological museum and discover the evolution of their early settlement through its extensive underground exhibit.

Winding under shady trees, we soon cross Montreal’s historic port locks.  A park ranger chats with us about how the famed Lachine Canal transformed this city into Canada’s industrial dynamo.  Over six hundred businesses once sprawled along this waterway, powering manufacturing machinery and providing access to Canadian and U.S. markets. Many old red brick factories remain, refurbished as luxurious condominiums. 

Looping eastward along the shore, Habitat’s jaunty million-dollar cubicles so prominent at Expo 67 are still impressive. From high on a bridge bike lane, we spot the iconic Geodesic Dome over on Isle de Sainte Helene, also from Expo. On more distant Isle Notre Dame, the former French pavilion looks like a giant diamond ring; the Québec pavilion, a mirrored box resembling a gold bar.  Both have merged into a government Casino. With only a few fragments of the fair remaining, these man-made islands have largely reverted to nature.

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Categories : Bike Travel, Canada, Destinations, Quebec, Travelogues

Cycling Old Quebec: Sans Car, Avec Beaucoup d’Adventure

By The Traveler · Comments (0)
Sunday, November 25th, 2007

A Quebec Cycling Trilogy: Part One
By Rick Millikan

(This is the first installment of a three-part series on bike tours through Quebec, Canada by our resident independent bike tour expert, Rick Milliakan)

Quebec City feels like France to us – but without the jet lag. From our charming boutique hotel, we immerse in ooh la la French culture amid her belle architecture, stylish accoutrements and a joie de vivre lifestyle.

Quebec Bike RentalOur first Gallic frolic involves mounting rental bikes and joining the multitudes of local cyclists. We soon cross the Charles River on a paved bikeway and slice neatly through city rail yards. Nearby lies Domaine De Maizerets, a historic park.  We amble through its natural wilderness, sniff around its large botanical gardens and proceed cycling northeast on Corridor du Littoral along the St. Lawrence River. Cool breezes caress our efforts as we merrily meander between long swaths of lush grass curving into tunnels under busy roadways. Silvery church spires soar above distant green hills. Spandex clad racers pass us, whizzing off to Baie de Beauport, most likely to take a dip off its sandy beach.

Soon sweet-scented purple lilacs welcome us into historic Beauport near our prime destination, a local natural attraction. Chirpy redwing blackbirds herald our arrival as we bridge a large marsh on the last phase of our journey. Just eleven pleasant kilometers from Quebec City, we’re gazing across a fresh water lagoon at Montmorency Falls, touted as over 30 meters higher than Niagara Falls. While snapping photos of its spectacular plunge, we notice fellow visitors riding a cable car up the cliffs to walk across a bridge suspended high above the falls. They’re enjoying close up views of the foaming fury; we’re content to snack and head back.

Next morning, we pedal through historic Lower Town and board the ferry to Levis. This short ride across the St. Lawrence offers stupendous views of Quebec City’s granite block walls surrounding the renowned chateau-style Hotel Frontenac, silvery domed Laval University and soaring Gothic cathedrals. We were told that for over a century, only the elite French lived in Upper Town.

A passing tall-ship surprises us with its surreal choir of yellow, red and blue suited sailors, who roost on five long spars branching from its main masts. Wondering if climbing the rigging for songfests is a Quebecois tradition, we listen as their exuberant rollicking sea shanties float over the river.

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Categories : Bike Travel, Canada, Destinations, Quebec, The Traveler Newsletter, Travel Ideas, Travel Stories, Travelogues