Paris - Beaugency 140 km

It wasn't as easy as the title suggests, so let's start from the beginning. After a year without two consecutive vacation days and many weekends worked through (especially recently), I was finally on vacation again. I was slowly running on empty and my mood was no longer the best. If I hadn't booked the vacation a long time ago (18 months now) when I was still living a different life (tranquil laboratory manager in a permanent position with a fixed, high salary and regular working hours), I probably wouldn't have gone but would have continued working. That's just the way it is in academia, a precarious work situation with little prospect of happiness and success, but the choice was voluntary. Doesn't mean you can't change your mind again? Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, vacation, yes vacation. The need for a change of scenery, so I went to work in the morning with my bags packed, got the most important things ready and then finally got on the train.  Train travel in NRW is really bad, with a bike? That's right, hell. In general, any form of transportation, whether car, public transport or bike, is tedious and time-consuming in NRW. Changing trains in Cologne, the station is cramped, difficult with a bike. No matter. All in all, I need just under 4 hours for the Pott - Koblenz route, which is estimated at 2 hours in the timetable. That's actually still acceptable. When arrived in Koblenz, i went straight to myaccommodation at the train station, then took the cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, went to a cultural festival and had a quick bite to eat. The next morning i got up early again, took the 6 a.m. train to Saarbrücken, from there on to Strasbourg, then the TGV to Paris. Why so inconvenient? Because the Riedbahn was closed and bikes had to be carried! And I didn't want to dismantle my bike and pack it in my bag. I don't fancy screwing things together, although that's probably the easiest option. But lugging my luggage plus the bike is not a nice way to start a vacation, to say the least. I spent 3 hours in Strasbourg, had forgotten how beautiful this city is, you can stand it there, at least 3 hours. Then within 2 hours by TGV to Paris. Well, there are no real bike compartments on the TGV, I didn't know that either, but there is a compartment with 4 folding seats where you can leave your bike (if you have reserved it beforehand). And it's really easy to do via the app (well in advance). So then I was at the Gare de l'est and set off straight away, had been lucky and found accommodation on the internet in the south of Paris in the morning that suited my budget and was now only 5 euros more expensive than an overnight stay on a Paris campsite. The accommodation was actually quite reasonable (for Paris). So the first 20 km in Paris. Every big city has its peculiarities, including this one. What was the first thing I noticed? Never before have I seen so many different vehicles in, shall I say, alternative private transport. Scooters, bikes, unicycles, with E, without E. As a rule, Asians were sitting or standing on the really bizarre things. A few roads were closed because of the Olympics, but it's all just fun to ride in this city. Of course, I couldn't resist making a detour to a street café for a coffee and crème brûlée. At some point I arrived at my accommodation and then the automatism kicked in: shopping, showering, eating, sleeping. Forget something? Yes! Writing a blog! Tsss.

And then today. Out early, packed up, saddled up and off we went. The first 40 km were tough. Up and down the Parisian belt. Bad roads, traffic and not so good weather. But at some point I was out of the Paris suburbs and in the middle of nowhere. 60 km straight ahead, at ground level, a traffic circle every 5 km, a town every 10 km. I switched on the cruise control, a nice 30 and made up for what I'd left behind in the morning. I arrived in Orleans around 2 p.m., did a little sightseeing and continued along the Loire Valley to Beaugency. I had broken off here last time and headed home. Good starting point, almost the same spot again, wonderful view of the bridge, the river and the old town from the tent. Showered straight away, shopped at the campsite, then showered, ate, went sightseeing in the village, now to write the blog, view and upload pictures and go to sleep.... And of course listening to music. I'm already fully out and in on vacation, in that sense.