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Travel StoriesTo The Southern Tip Of Europe
A long Ride to Gien
Ride Date 13 Sep 2025
By Andy Gray
Home to Gien 401 miles
That was a long old day.
As usual before going away I hardly slept so was up and away at 05:00. The torrential rain started as soon as I got on the M25 and didn’t let up until I got on Le Shuttle. The check-in machine offered an earlier train which I accepted, got to the waiting car park and found all the trains were delayed by half hour. So the earlier train was leaving at the same time my original train was meant to leave!
Hit the motorway for the first 120 miles, was struggling to stay awake so stopped at a small services only to be followed by 16 other bikes. They are on a trip to the Alpes and included the well known (to my “adventure” biker friends) Bruce Smart aka Teapot One who rode a sports bike around the world for charity.
Once I hit the smaller roads it was more relaxed and there were sights, smells, villages and a few corners and hills to keep me occupied. Very windy which also helped to concentrate the mind.
I’m heading south using the same route as last year so heading to the east of Paris then south-ish to end up at Gien and an odd property that I found on booking.com. It’s an old house split up into apartments with a breakfast room downstairs where the owner cooks up delicious Beirut/Lebanese food.
Somehow I managed to avoid the rain apart from a couple of very light showers. Temperatures started at 12C this morning but rose nicely to 20C.
Villiers-Saint-George: Typical French town with the church and mayor’s building. I spotted public toilets which are a rarity, they were locked!!
The Seine at Bray-sur-Seine.
Didn’t capture the bridge at Gien when I went out for a wander.
Gien castle.
River Loire where I watched what I’m almost certain were large catfish feeding on smaller fish.
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A long Ride to Gien
Big miles already on Andy's first day on the road. He's just getting settled into the ride and making his way south through France.
Smiling In The Rain
It's a soggy wet day through France for Andy, but that won't dampen his spirits. He stumbles upon 2CVs and climbing walls, straight roads and twisties.
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Oooooo, France and Spain, gotta love a ride to Spain.
Enjoyed that.
Upt.
10/10/2025 08:20:52 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well there's a whole lot more to come from Andy Upt'. Should keep you out of trouble for a while.
10/10/2025 09:40:34 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Look forward to this Andy.
10/10/2025 10:10:41 UTC
Bogger said :-
Nice. looking forward to the upcoming episodes.
Bogger
10/10/2025 19:49:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
None of you lot say nice things to me when I start a story! I'm going to go sit in a corner and sulk for a bit. Pffffft.
Poor poor Ren.
11/10/2025 08:56:41 UTC
Bros Steve said :-
Great so far Andy. Ren all you stories are like a jam doughnut. The arrival gives us pleasure and the end leaves us longing for more...
12/10/2025 10:13:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
That's what I tell Sharon... always leave her wanting more. Thanks Bros Steve :)
12/10/2025 19:34:17 UTC
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Travel StoriesTo The Southern Tip Of Europe