And so the final push, little sleep really due to the ferry but think I made a couple of hours.

Finally on French soil and what a cycle path. It’s basically an old railway line, like so many. The difference is the surface, wide, flat, very very few roots, trees are mostly set back to prevent this, cafes, bars, bbq spots and picnic areas line the route. Works really well. Most interesting was the no e-bike sign on it. Asking a local basically they got banned as people were being Muppets and de-restricting them, it was becoming lethal on the route with them flying up and down when it comes to busy times. Idiots spoiling the fun of others always a shame.

Pressing on the heat was really becoming a problem. The forecast said about 25C but riding I was baked. Insulin off and shoveling in fuel want helping and levels were being a pain (pump is off but levels are being drained like silly things). Blood meter kept overheating and hiding it in a pannier helped a bit… No so easy to access though. Even the phone went crazy with temperature warnings and refusing to run more than one app at a time due to heat and even shutting down for a while. It was hot. I needed more drinks and food as I had depleted my supply of gels, Shotblocks, and Cliff Bars. So I followed the signs for a Carrefour and restocked filling the bags with chocolate brownies, it’s the same as an energy bar right? And a load of bananas and Pringles, need the salt of course! Sitting in the car park under a tree refilling my bottles and getting some lunch in. Was nice actually if it raised a few eyebrows.

Well, that’s half way to Paris (from the ferry) and the heat is a killer (25C). Pumps off but levels are being drained like silly things. So having lunch in a Carrefour and filling the bags with chocolate brownies, it’s the same as an energy bar right? And a load of bananas and Pringles, need the salt of course!

Venturing on the route for very weird, thank you again Google! It started off fine avoiding main roads, then through back roads which were nice, then through little tracks which started to feel like yesterday going all cyclocross again, before it ends in a middle of a field with nothing but wheat for miles and three tractor tracks. Google note maps tractor tracks and uses them as cycle routes?! Alternative route offered by the Garmin was a further 50 odd miles so that was out. Rattle, rattle, rattle this isn’t fun, rattle, BOOM, what the!! Some blinkin’ yakka (for those who don’t speak Cumbrian a yakka is another term for farmer) was taking pot shots, feck, feck, feck, did set a Strava time if seems, phew!

So I finally reach Clergy, on the doorstep of Paris. The wonders of Googles, I’ll find a faster way through here was a slight snag (not like it wasn’t earlier). As ever it did it’s best to find a route which doesn’t put you on roads. Great!? Not so much when it sends you on diversions through a total warren of tunnels in a tower block nightmare. Up and down ramps and places, at least I blended in so well in this surrounding no one noticed me 😛

Upon escaping using the Garmin find the Eiffel Tower search it found a nice road route away from the tower blocks. Paris traffic is interesting, you get cars, bikes, buses, scooters, lorries and pedestrians seemingly just making things up as they go. But oddly no one seems to get hurt. The more you ride it, the more it kind of makes sense. Red lights are optional for all, but if someone stops you all must. Bus and bike lanes can be used by anyone. And bikes can use anywhere they feel like, just as can pedestrians. Total sense!

Eventually, I made my way to the tower and got a few pics. Say for an hour almost just admiring the view and the long fight to get here on the trip. But I best get to the hotel… *facepalm* it’s 12km away!

On the way to the hotel, when sitting in a bike lane with actual bikes in it, I get chatting to a lad who Kickstartered his own bike brand. He designs the frames, then ordered in from abroad to be built in France. All city bikes mind, but interesting to hear how he started it. Then we got onto Lancet and we were still blocking traffic 20mins later.