Unlucky for some

Blue skies, gentle breeze,
towering pines, sun warmed rock -
am I in heaven ?

Sunshine and a cooling zephyr, cycling, climbing, a picnic lunch - what more could we want of a day ?

On awakening this morning I poked my head out of the bedroom window for the weather report. Exceptionally fine - a vast swathe of cobalt blue overhead with not a cloud in sight. After breakfasting, Neil made a couple of small adjustments so his panniers would fit onto the new rack, I hoisted our new friend Mat onto my back and we set off.

Using the smaller roads to get to Larchant added a couple of kilometres but also meant that there would be less traffic with which to contend - although we have not had any problems here in France with cars hogging the road and even on quite major roads have felt quite safe. It's the buffeting from the wind as a large truck passes that can get a bit uncomfortable, especially if you are cycling wearing a bouldering mat on your back.

We crossed under the A6 motorway once, then over thrice more before arriving at L'éléphant, after a quick detour to the boulangerie in Larchant village for fresh bread (and a little something extra). In the couple of weeks since we arrived in Noisy-sur-École the countryside has changed. Canola has finished flowering and it's seed pods are swelling, wheat is beginning to look more like wheat and less like grass and we see more beet crops. Plenty of elder and acacia in flower, both we can smell as we ride along.

Warmed up after 20km of cycling, we jump straight onto one of the circuits that proliferate in the forest until our bellies inform us that it's lunch time (well, mine does). Our climbing has taken us up a hillside and into the sun so we walk back to where the bikes and bags are parked and picnic in the shade. The bouldering mat, as well as being excellent landing when falling off a climb, is a very comfortable picnic bench.


First, a few photos from our Monday jaunt to Canche aux Merciers:

Neil with Mat. The trail became too sandy to ride, so we had to push.

Then we found an alternate bike path.

Our friend Mat - a welcome place to land, or to sit.

I think I can...(I did)

Climbing shoes - a necessary evil. Comfort is optional.

Concentration.

Cool rock shapes.

White arrows denote a kids circuit. This day we shared the rocks with a class of primary kids.

And a few from today:

Looking back to the rocks from our picnic spot.

Delicious fresh bread and a wicked soft cheese from Burgundy.

Boulangerie-wrapped dessert.

Mmmm - apple tart.

L'éléphant - one of the more famous rocks in the Fontainebleau forest.

Yes, I know I'm only a few inches off the ground - it took a lot of effort to get that far !

Neil showing how it's done.

Still taking it easy on the right shoulder though.

Trees, rocks, sunshine...

It looked interesting...

...but wasn't to be. This time.

Lovely sandstone.

Wonderful texture.

Did I mention that we like it here ?

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words by Gabby, images by Neil and Gabby