Tour de Rêves, almost ready

Tour de Rêves team jerseys

We are now only a matter of days away from setting off on our six day, 425km charity cycling adventure around the Deux-Sèvres department in France. Our team cycle jerseys have arrived and they look fantastic. We have already been out and about in them on training rides and they are getting some admiring looks, thank you to our sponsors, all local business, for making them happen.

I’d like to say our panniers are packed, the house is in tip top condition (Adrian’s mum arrives on Sunday), Ed is packed and ready for another new school year at Lycée and all is calm in my mind. I wish!

Garden produce

If this week were four weeks long I’d still be able to fill every hour. I have a butterfly mind, one minute I’m writing a packing list, the next preparing peaches for the freezer, before moving on to sweeping the floors or cleaning the toilets. The garden is struggling in the drought, but still producing pears, apples, peaches, tomatoes, courgettes and squash by the kilos. I could easily spend this week cooking chutneys and jams as well as roasting and puréeing the veggies for the freezer. 

I could also happily spend the week reading all the new books I added to my reading list at the Charroux Lit Fest last week, but sadly I don’t think I’ll even have time to finish and post my blog about it, or the one about my summer yoga fun, or the choux pastry workshop I attended; where my piping skills amazed me even if my measuring skills rather let me down. I also think I could do with at least a week to conquer the ironing mountain, tidy, dust and vacuum the house and get the spare bedrooms ready for guests next week.

Training ride in Pays Mellois, Deux-Sèvres

I could also do with as much time as possible out on the bike, although I have managed over 300kms on my new bike in the two and half weeks since we bought it. Some of these have been trial runs with the panniers on, some of them have been testing out local sections of the route, to check out the opening times of bars and restaurants we are hoping to refuel in, but none of them have been anywhere near the 90km we will be cycling next Monday.

In the Nouvelle Republique local paper

We have been delighted with the local interest in our ride, from offers of small receptions at finish points to having our five minutes of fame in the local paper (see here). We have also been in the online magazine The Good Life France and our local tourist board have created us a promo video of part of our route (see here) as well as added us to their events page.

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly September magazine

If you are local, please do pick up the September edition of The Deux-Sèvres Monthy magazine to read our latest news, or you can read it online here. 

Our mascots

We even have mascots lovingly sewed and knitted for us by a local craft group.

Finally, thanks to everyone who has sponsored us so far – there are many names on the donation page I recognise from family, local friends and cycling friends to authors from the other side of the world whose books I’ve read and reviewed, thank you all. We have already smashed the 500€ mark, which has really helped boost our spirits. If you would like to make a donation to Rêves in our name, you can do so securely by following this link here.

The blog may well be quiet for the next week or so, but we will be posting regular updates and photos on our Tour de Rêves Facebook page, so do please like and follow if you want to keep up to date with our progress.

Book review of The Secret of the Abbey by Kathleen C Perrin

The Secret of the Abbey by Kathleen C Perrin    

The Secret of the Abbey, on tour August 14-25, 2017

(historical fiction) Release date: June 3, 2017 Self-published at Langon House 565 pages ISBN: 978-0692877975 Website | Goodreads

SYNOPSIS

After unwillingly leaving a comatose Nicolas behind on Mont Saint Michel in 1429, Katelyn Michaels is distraught to be back in the United States in modern times. When a series of remarkable events facilitates her taking up residence on the Mount and reveals why Katelyn was called as a Watchman, her fondest hope is to be reunited with Nicolas, regardless of the circumstances. However, when Nicolas unexpectedly arrives with a new mission for her, Katelyn is devastated to learn that his head injury has deprived him of any memories of their relationship. Nonetheless, she is determined to once again save the Mount this time in sixteenth-century France amidst violent religious turmoil and rekindle Nicolas's feelings for her. The couple's love and loyalty is tested as she and Nicolas attempt to unmask the true source of the threat their adversary Abdon, sort out their conflicting emotions, and deal with the consequences of an astounding age-old secret.

MY REVIEW

Having really enjoyed books one and two in this trilogy I couldn’t wait to get back into the exciting world of Watchman Katelyn Michaels, whose travels through time for her missions to save the abbey on Mont St Michel bring French history to life. Yet again Kathleen Perrin has filled in the gaps of my historical knowledge of France with her easy to understand descriptions, which always include plenty of drama to keep me turning the pages.

Katelyn is a great character, believable (despite her ability to travel through time), intelligent, strong and independent. This time she and Nicolas are sent to Mont St Michel in 1577 when France is being torn apart by religious differences. Katelyn finds her place in the male dominated era she arrives in, and proves yet again why she deserves to be a Watchman. This book also reveals to her why she, an 18-year-old American girl, was chosen for the important role as Watchman; answers she needed for the strange events that have occurred in her life since she first arrived on Mont St Michel as a reluctant tourist. 

This book is action packed and full of real history woven into readable fiction. Emotions run high when Katelyn is reunited with Nicolas, who has lost all memory of her, the special bond between them and the work they have carried out together as Watchmen in the past. There are also plenty of heart stopping moments as she carries out her risky plans to save the abbey from destruction, often working in dangerous situations, alone and undercover.

 

I’m really quite sad to be leaving Mont St Michel and this series of books behind. Although written for young adult readers, they are perfect for anyone with an interest in French history, told with excitement and the fresh ideas of youth. If you haven’t yet read them, do take a closer look, but be warned, one book won’t be enough.

You can read my review of the second book in the series on the link below.

The Sword of the Maiden

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen C Perrin holds bachelor's degrees in French and Humanities from Brigham Young University and is a certified French translator. Besides being the author of The Watchmen Saga, she has published several non-fiction articles, academic papers, and a religious history about Tahiti. Kathleen has lived in Utah, New York City, France, and French Polynesia. She and her French husband have spent years investigating the mysteries and beauties of his native country where they have a cottage and have taken tourist groups to France. The Perrins have three children and currently reside in Utah.

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My new bike, the Liv Beliv 2

Liv Beliv 2 with pannier rack and mudguards 

While I spent two days last week rediscovering my love of stretchy yoga positions (more about that later) and learning about Mindfulness (both positive experiences), the downside was I left Adrian home alone. With no structured project to keep him occupied he took to the internet with no supervision. While Mat and Agi from Matagi Mundax Yoga Workshops were teaching me to appreciate the here and now and learn to live without letting my desires for the future give me an illusion of happiness just waiting for me around the corner, ironically Adrian was busy researching new bikes.

Following his algebraic principal of N+1 with N being the number of bikes you own and N+1 being your optimal number of bikes, he felt I was lacking. When Adrian gets an idea in his head he’s a little like a dog with it’s favourite toy and it’s not easy to persuade him to drop it. This is how I found myself in a bike shop in Niort last Saturday just ‘looking’ at their ladies selection of bikes.

Now, it’s not that I’m fussy, but being short generally means it’s not possible to try a frame that fits me without ordering it in advance. Most bike shops hold stock in the more popular medium or large frame sizes, rather than small or extra small. My current bike is good enough but not great. I’ve never really got ‘comfortable’ with only having brakes on the drops of my handlebars and although it’s easier for me when Adrian carries all the luggage on tours, the fact that my bike has no rack mounts isn’t ideal as we do love our touring adventures. In the Sarthe I managed to wear out a whole set of brake pads in the week as I’m a little too cautious downhill, but this brake-happy squeezing could one day create so much heat on the tyres I get a blow out. I wouldn’t like that.

Liv Beliv 2 stripped down for road rather than touring

Back to the bike shop and tucked away in a corner was a little ladies bike, a Liv Beliv2, not the prettiest of paintwork, but not only was it the only ladies drop handlebar bike in the shop it also had a lot to offer. Disc brakes to start with (meaning no overheating), pannier rack already fitted, drop handlebars but with raised brake levers too and a 30% reduction label hanging tantalisingly from the handlebars. The icing on the cake was that it was in my size, almost of if she was sitting there just waiting for me.

Adrian was as excited as a puppy as this was one of the models he’d looked at online but had no idea was in stock and the discounted price really appealed to him. However, I don’t make rash decisions; in fact decision-making is something I’ve always found difficult and up to this point I hadn’t realised I needed a new bike!

While she is certainly an upgrade in many ways on my current bike, she’s not perfect. The gear set is still the same, albeit with an extra Granny Gear to help me climb the tough hills, and the frame shape will make fitting a second water bottle carrier quite a challenge. What she is though is more of a touring bike than a speedy road racer, and so am I, which means she is so much more of a perfect fit for me.

Beer stop in the Charente

I have now had a three test rides out on her (and clocked up over 100kms) and can’t quite believe that so many of the aches and niggles I had assumed were normal when cycling on a road bike have disappeared. I’m now even more excited about setting off on the Tour de Rêves, our six day charity adventure, touring the Deux-Sèvres department, that is now less than three weeks away. We would be very grateful for any donation, so if you would like to help us to help children suffering from long-term medical conditions please click here, thank you.

Looks like, yet again, Adrian was right, I did need a new bike after all.

Book review of A Very French Christmas

A Very French Christmas

A Very French Christmas: The Greatest French Holiday Stories of All Time, on Tour August 8-14

(short story collection) Release date: October 10, 2017 at New Vessel Press ISBN: 978-1939931504 142 pages Website Goodreads  

SYNOPSIS

A continuation of the very popular Very Christmas Series from New Vessel Press, this collection brings together the best French Christmas stories of all time in an elegant and vibrant collection featuring classics by Guy de Maupassant and Alphonse Daudet, plus stories by the esteemed twentieth century author Irene Nèmirovsky and contemporary writers Dominique Fabre and Jean-Philippe Blondel. With a holiday spirit conveyed through sparkling Paris streets, opulent feasts, wandering orphans, kindly monks, homesick soldiers, oysters, crayfish, ham, bonbons, flickering desire, and more than a little wine, this collection encapsulates the holiday spirit and proves that the French have mastered Christmas. This is Christmas à la Française delicious, intense and unexpected, proving that nobody does Christmas like the French.

MY REVIEW

August seemed rather an odd time of year to be reading and reviewing a book about Christmas, especially for someone who never likes to think about Christmas until October is on it’s way out. However, I am ashamed to admit I don’t have enough experience of reading the great French authors, so with contributions from names like Guy de Maupassant, François Coppée and Anatole France I thought this collection of short stories would be a perfect introduction and I wasn’t disappointed.

This selection of Christmas tales was full of beautifully written pieces, where the descriptions of winter helped to cool me down on a hot summer day, although I wasn’t really filled with the Christmas cheer I was expecting. These traditional tales set in years gone by often reminded me of Dickens. Many of the stories seemed to show how lonely Christmas can be for some; the old man struggling to fit in with his family, the hermit and his pig, the young gambler bankrupt on Christmas Eve, the dying soldier far from home and the wealthy but lonely merchant are just a few examples to be found, along with a good smattering of ghostly apparitions and orphans. They were certainly stories that made me think and I enjoyed this different perspective.

Culturally I learned a lot and was certainly glad to make my acquaintance of some of France’s great writers. I am looking forward to re-reading this book nearer the festive season and now that I’ve dipped my toes into the literature of some of France’s greats, I’m keen to read more.

THE AUTHORS

Alphonse Daudet, Guy de Maupassant, Anatole France Irene Nèmirovsky, Jean-Philippe Blondel, Dominique Fabre, Paul Arene, Francois Coppee, Antoine Gustave Droz, Anatole La Braz

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Tour de Rêves en Francais

Tour de Rêves tour four
photo credit Megan Macdonald

Pour mes amis Français un peut d'information de notre tour des Deux-Sèvres à vélo:

Le lundi 4 septembre 2017, deux couples d'Anglais qui habitent actuellement dans les Deux-Sèvres, se proposent de réaliser un circuit à vélo de 425 km autour du département afin de recueillir de l’argent pour l’association “Rêves”.

Sarah Berry, 41 ans propriétaire d’un magazine anglophone “The Deux-Sèvres Monthly” et son mari Rob, 50 ans chef d’entreprise de plâtre, débutent à vélo quand ils ont accepté ce challenge. Ils se sont beaucoup investis en achetant de nouveaux vélos et ont passé le plus de temps possible à pédaler cet été. Tout cela afin de s’entraîner pour le tour car ils veulent effectuer un maximum de 85km par jour pendant 6 jours.

Les accompagneront dans le tour, Jacqui et Adrian Brown, cyclistes amateurs. Gérant d’entreprise Adrian, 47 ans a réalisé le parcours du tour qui débutera et se terminera à Secondigny en passant par le Pays Mellois, Niort et le Marais Poitevin, Parthenay, Thouars et Bressuire. Jacqui, 45 ans bloggeuse souffre d’épilepsie depuis ses cinq ans, alors cet événement pour l’association “Rêves” sera difficile pour elle, mais elle s'entraine régulièrement. Elle est prête.

L’association “Rêves” recueille de l’argent pour réaliser les rêves d’enfants et d'adolescents atteints d’une maladie grave. Sarah a choisi cette association car ne pouvant avoir d'enfants, elle veut aider ceux en difficulté. Grâce à “Rêves” ces enfants peuvent s’échapper à la vie quotidienne et vivre des expériences inoubliables avec leurs familles, ce qui leur apporte force et confiance pour se battre contre la maladie.

Pour faire un don à cette association visitez cette page: www.alvarum.com/sarahberry

Si vous voulez soutenir les cyclistes sur la route ou même participer avec eux sur une partie du trajet, inscrivez-vous sur le site internet www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Les horaires de départ et d’arrivée sont notés ci-dessous.

Des mises à jour seront affichées régulièrement sur la page Facebook Tour de Rêves

·       Lundi 4 septembre: 10h00 grand départ Place de Maréchal Leclerc, Secondigny 79130

              Arrivée prévue à Loubillé: 17h15

·       Mardi 5 septembre 09h30 départ: Bar à côté de l’église de Loubillé 79110

              Arrivée prévue au port d’Arçais: 15h30

·       Mercredi 6 septembre 10h00 départ à l’église de Coulon

              Arrivée prévue à Parthenay au parking en face de Hyper U: 16h45

·       Jeudi 7 septembre 10h00 départ Parthenay au parking en face de Hyper U

              Arrivée prévue à Thouars, au parking de Mon Brico: 16h40

·       Vendredi 8 septembre 10h00 départ Thouars, au parking de Mon Brico

              Arrivée prévue à Etusson 15h30

·       Samedi 9 septembre 11h00 départ à Bressuire, Bar La Promenade, en face de la Place St Jacques

              Arrivée prévue à Secondigny 15h00

Tous ces horaires ne sont pas fixes et peuvent changer.

An English translation of this can be found on The Good Life France here.