With covid behind us, we once again had a day trip to France courtesy of the reinstated Brittany Ferries day trip offers. Twelve of us drove in four cars to Portsmouth on Monday 24th April to board the overnight ferry to St Malo. Whilst waiting in the queue to board the ferry, Peter got chatting to a touring cyclist – she had started in Inverness and was cycling to Gibraltar – this put our day trip into perspective! After settling into our cabins, we had a convivial meal with the odd glass or two of wine in the restaurant before heading to the bar for the evening’s live entertainment – this year a duo singing and a unicycle riding juggling act. Some retired to bed to conserve their energies whilst the hardcore hedonists in the group danced the night away.
In the morning, we met up for breakfast before disembarking and driving to Pleslin Trivagou for the start of the day’s ride. It was cool but bright as we unloaded the bikes and set off along the Eurovelo route EV4. After crossing The Rance on the Pont Saint Hubert we came to the junction where we were to turn south and the same touring cyclist as last evening was checking her map [you can spot her in the group photo]. From this junction we cycled on quiet back roads through the varied countryside to pick up the VD3 cycle route at Tressé. Reaching the small town of Saint Pierre de Plesguen by 12:00, we stopped at the Café Voyageurs for a coffee. We had no problems ordering as the lady serving us had lived in Reading and was born in Sheffield.
Cafe in Saint Pierre de Gluesgen
Shortly after this, we split into two groups with the one led by Rod taking the more direct route to Dinan whilst the rest of us continued on to Trévérien where we picked up the towpath for the Canal d’Ille et Rance that we followed to the junction of our two routes at the very pretty village of Léhon. By the time we got there, the first group, who were about 30 minutes ahead, had carried on up the steep hill, through the old gate in the original walls to Dinan Castle and were enjoying lunch at a restaurant close by. By the time we got there it was 14:00 and service was terminéé.
Towpath to canal
Whilst they lunched, we continued the cycle tour through the pretty parts of Dinan and rode down the hill to the port where we were able to pick up a snack at the boulangerie there and local delicacy at the patisserie. The whole group met up again there and we continued along the road beside the river to Taden then climbed up the valley side to the Route Verte V3 cycle path that was a direct run back to the cars. Those on the full route logged 42 miles and 504m ascent with the shorter route saving 8 miles but with about the same ascent.
Dinan
Boulangerie at Dinan Port
Once the bikes were loaded up, we headed back to the ferry port with some going shopping on the way and others opting for a walking tour of St Malo old town. Once back on board, we met up for dinner with a few glasses of wine and thence to the bar for the evening’s entertainment – same format as the outgoing passage. In the morning at breakfast, some felt a little more delicate than others. Although the M27 was closed for an accident we all made good time on the return home.