Calais – Sète
The first part of the journey as planned by the CTC-Heart of England cycling group used hotels, mostly on the basis of B&B, so until I set out on my own I would not need my camping kit. I packed it into a cardboard box and sent it by courier to the hotel in Sète who very kindly kept it for me until I arrived.
The route cuts through the Champagne region to the River Saône, down to Lyon and then following the River Rhône cycle path to Avignon. We then turned south west through the Carmargue region to arrive at the Mediterranean at Stes-Maries-de-la-Mare. Our final destination was Sète from where the others returned to Montpellier to pick up the European Bike Express and I would retrace my steps to Arle and then follow my own route.
Rob and Jon had tales of pancake flat cycle paths, blissful cycling, epic meals and accommodating landladies. We couldn’t wait!
Campsites/Hotels and Mileage
| Day | Campsite/Hotel | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Sun-15-Jun | Hôtel Particulier Richelieu, 17 rue Richelieu, 62100 Calais | 5 |
| Mon-16-Jun | Hôtel Les Trois Luppars, 49 Grand' Place, 62000 Arras | 75 |
| Tue-17-Jun | Hôtel Restaurant Belle Vue, 2 Porte de Laon, Ville Haute, 02380 Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique | 71 |
| Wed-18-Jun | Hôtel le Thibault IV, 2 Pl. République, 51130 Vertus | 69 |
| Thu-19-Jun | Hôtel du Commerce, 30 Rue De La Republique, 10110 Bar-sur-Seine | 71 |
| Fri-20-Jun | Hôtel de la Poste, 17 Rue Carnot, 21440 St Seine l'Abbaye | 62 |
| Sat-21-Jun | Hôtel Kyriad, 35 Place de Beaune, 71100 Châlon-sur-Saône | 64 |
| Sun-22-Jun | Hôtel Kyriad, 146 Rue de la Sous Prefecture, 69400 Villefranche sur Saone | 71 |
| Mon-23-Jun | Hôtel Ibis Lyon Sud, RN 7 Quartier Les Champagnières, 26140 Saint-Rambert d'Albon | 71 |
| Tue-24-Jun | Hôtel Kyriad, Montelimar, Place d'Armes, 8 Boulevard Du Pecher, 26200 Montelimar | 67 |
| Wed-25-Jun | Hôtel Ibis Avignon Centre Gare, 42 Boulevard Saint-Roch, 84000 Avignon | 61 |
| Thu-26-Jun | Hôtel le Mirage, 14 rue Camille Peletan, BP 29, 13460 Les Saintes Maries de la Mer | 52 |
| Fri-27-Jun | Hôtel Le Point Bleu, ZA la Peyrade rue Auguste Rodin, 34110 Frontignan | 56 |
| Total | 795 |
The Route