However, I then stumbled across the red London bus with Notting Hill as the destination in the photo! Most unexpected! There was a sort of cafe in the background. Did they do hot drinks? No, but they could make me one. What a wonderful and warming, much needed cuppa!
After lunching in a rather characterful stone and wood bus shelter, I was happily back in the hills. As I approached the summit of a small col, Col du Perret, a guy jumped out of a van with bare feet and ran across the road waving a banana and Snickers bar at me!! He and an equally enthusiastic lady were working for a Dutch cycle touring company and they thought I was amazing for carrying all my own kit and for doing it in this weather (it's only like the UK!). We had a super chat and they really made my day.
These are the sort of experiences I love on tour.
I made it to Yvoire this evening. When planning with Mary last week, I was going to stay in Bonneville tonight and then pedal to Yvoire tomorrow. However, as I reached Bonneville before 10am, I felt strong enough to carry on!! Although in the UK this week, Mary and Rene will be happy to hear I've now done Col de Saxel, the closest col to their home.
My insect bitten arm had reduced considerably by this morning so I'm happy it's going in the right direction. It's still pretty swollen but nothing like yesterday and no camel hump appearances today. Phew!
I'll be back in Switzerland tomorrow for a few days. I'll update the blog when I can. O2 stopped my internet access last time as I'd used my "outside Europe" allowance apparently. O2 need to check their maps. It's not like I'm in Africa!
However, I can still receive all blog responses, emails and texts. Please keep them coming, they're such a lifeline for me and a daily delight to look forward to. Thank you Mandie, Mel, Loz and Kate for all your communications. Emma R, great to hear from you again. Teresa, glad to hear you're having such an amazing time at the triathlete camp in the Dordogne (what mad sporty friends I have!). Jane, keep blogging from NZ! Laetitia, hope the sun comes out back home! Also for Mary's visit.
And thank you always to my Mum and Sis for being in touch so brilliantly every day with all the news and gossip. Glad to hear about Murray beating Federer! Hope you got to meet lots of exciting Team GB peeps, Janny!
A big happy birthday to my Auntie Hazel today also!
Keep me up to date with life and the Olympics everyone, it sounds like we're doing great!
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on O2
What wonderful stories on your trip. I will have to get my travel journals out and re-read them to remind myself of my trips. Not a fancy blog like this just scruffy book full of my scribbles, spelling mistakes and clips and ticket stubs etc.
ReplyDeleteI am an Absolute radio listerner and the morning programme said they would play Spandu Ballets 'Gold' song 20 times if Team GB won 20 gold medals. I think they are starting to worry now! I might turn in for the 1st play and then stick on my ipod! Loving the Olympics and really looking forward to the para olympics.
Keep blogging and keep safe!
Love Mandie
Hi Andi - lots of good photos - surely not just from B'berry. You are not missing much here. Lots of Olympic fever - London strangely empty at the weekend but weather bizarre. Rained into the Velodrome but only in the centre (warm up area for the Chinese) not on the track. More Olympic Gold in the Cycling and the French complaining again. Otley trying to organise a welcome home for Lizzie on Wednesday . Everyone humming the Chariots of Fire music - good for cycling into a headwind. John B (Otley CC)
ReplyDeleteHi Andi
ReplyDeleteI'm loving reading your blog, you are doing amazing Hun and deserve all the praise you have received and the kindness. Your pics are fab, even in the horrendous weather you have had i can see why you love the area it is so beautiful! Had to laugh at the red bus though, that must have amused you:)Yesterday it bucketed it down and hailed in parts of Bradford,so much so that it looked like snow, and this is summer!! Hope the bite is better soon, take care Andi,
Love Caroline xx
Sorry to introduce a negative note, but Andi I think you may have misunderstood the concept of "park & ride"
ReplyDeleteOn the upside the red bus was a great reminder that London is the capital of the world and the best Olympic host ever!
Morning clever Daughter!!
ReplyDeleteOnly you could find a red bus in the middle of mountains!!
Glad your elbow is returning to normal, it did sound as if it was something quite nasty to have that type of reaction.
Heavy heavy rain yesterday, lots of flooding everywhere i really do think the weather has gone mad.
We seem to have got a hedgehog living in our garden again! it comes out about 8.30pm and has a stroll round the garden, i hope it finds all the slugs that have eaten my plants and peas!! dreadful things.
We have finally picked a carpet for the dining room, many samples later! it has a fleck of Papaya in it which will match the carpet in the hall perfectly. Very happy with that.
I am hoping to get back exercising soon getting very twitchy now. I will have a word with my Physio next week and see what she says about it. My knee at last feels to be on the mend, i can bend it quite well which is a great improvement.
Keep having fun, you sound to have met some lovely people on the way.
Take care
Lots of love
Mum xxx
Hello Darling! Good mood tonight: it is gorgeous outside although a tad fresh: 17degres -it is very sad but heavy showers earlier jeopardised my clothes drying outside!! It is a housewife's thing!! Relying on the weather for the workload ;-)) Although you may experience the same feeling with the small amount you have to keep washing and dry. i can't believe I am writing about domestics in your blog!!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen Mary in Leeds but we have been in touch on facebook and she has so many people to meet that we agreed to meet up in St Cergues. I hope you are well.
Well done yesterday! Hope to read you again soon. Love. T
Hey Andi. I love reading your blog, I think you should turn this in to a book when you get back. Love the red bus - I bet that was a bit of a shock?
ReplyDeleteHope you are still dry and your insect bites have gone down, I sware by marmite... it is full of zinc and they don't like it as it lets off a smell that we can't smell but they do!
Keep up the pedalling and enjoying yourself, we are doing v well in the Olys although from a work point of view I can't wait till it is over!!
Keep smiling.
Jeannette x
Morning Daughter,
ReplyDeletei hope you had a lovely day yesterday and the weather behaved for you. We had mixed weather, looks like rain today as well!!
I have my IT boys coming round this morning, my connection into work keeps going down and no one knows why! so i have Dan coming to sort me and BT out, i shall read a book i think!!
It will be a good time for me to decide what colour i want the walls painting in the dining room, i am hoping to get the carpet fitted before the end of August. it will be lovely to freshen the place up. We enjoyed doing the hall stairs and landing, very pleased how that turned out.
We are planning a trip to the vineyard for the weekend once i can walk a bit better, something to look forward too.
i can't wait to see your next picture and hear about your adventures.
Take care
Lots of love
Mum xx
Hey sis - sounds like you are still having lots of fun which is what it is all about. I was informing Toby and his sister of your feats of achieving what appears to be the impossible. They were both more than suitably impressed. Getting recognition like that from superman himself is really saying something. I normally just get the mickey taken out of me for my efforts!!
ReplyDeleteLots of meetings for the Start up project have been taking place. Met an amazing lady Emma Jones yesterday who you would love. Written loads of books and has such drive and enthusiasm for what she is involved in - ace to be around such people. More of the same tomorrow, more expensive outfits to be purchased!
I'm looking forward to trip to France this weekend and may even have myself one or two of those yummy pastries!
Keep those legs fuelled and nice and strong.
Jxx
Hello Andi
ReplyDeleteManaged to catch up with all your blogs - great reading and fantastic pictures. You are awesome! Your gold medal is well deserved. How are your Bradley Wiggins sideburns coming along?? This is my last day in the office and I think PR has sent you a press release to sign off! Weather is bit better and the Burgess family are just about ready to jet off to the Bavarian Forest for our hols. Hen house is thoroughly deep cleaned and hens dusted down and told to carry on laying - they are not on holiday. Allotment onions and garlic plaited and hanging out to dry in the porch. Blackcurrants and rasps in the deep freeze. My first cabbage is ready but I don't think I'll get away with taking it with us this time. We took the train to Switz last time and I sneaked into Max's luggage two bags of new potatoes (freshly dug) and the first ever turnips I had grown! We just want some sunshine and less of the rain. The boys went to the Olympics yesterday and they were estatic - great atmosphere. Tom was disappointed with the GB triple jumper and got to see the Bolt. Both boys went to our York Athletics Club on Mon night and really enjoyed the sprints and hurdles. Inspiration there! I might even consider trading in my Dutch roadster for a road bike - memories of my road racing when I was young. Anyway I'll catch up with your lovely blogs when I return at the end of Aug. I keep my fingers crossed for lots of votes. Keep trucking Andi. Best wishes Marion
Morning Sweetie,
ReplyDeletei hope you had a great day yesterday, not too many hills and mountains to climb.
Uncle Kevin is keeping Nan & Grandad as well as me informed of your adventure, he is going to try and print off your blogs so they can see your photo's and read your messages.
Nan has had a bad neck these last couple of weeks, it seems to be getting less painful this week. Dad has had a head cold for nearly 3 weeks i think it is. I got him to go and get some tablets for his chest, not happy when he is so full of cold bless him. He says he is on the mend.
My computer behaved a bit better yesterday, Dan said i should go on infinity to get better speed! i wonder if it works for knees as well!!
Mr hedgehog is still staying with us, i hope he gets all the slugs, though a big ask when we have had such bad weather. it's lovely to watch as he goes around with his nose to the ground trying to find out where he is. My plants are starting to recover now they aren't beng eaten every day.
Have a lovely day today (Thursday) can't wait to see your latest picture and get your news.
Take care
lots of love
Mum xx
Ey up, Yorkshire was lovely, did get caught in a few torrential downpours but quite a bit of sunshine too, it was nice to escape all the thunderstorms for a while!! Back in Geneva now, catching up on your progress... Hope you're powering round Switzerland and I look forward to you getting back to 'real' Europe so we can have some more updates. Lovely photos!!
ReplyDeleteMxx
What a wonderful trip you're having - I could tell you about the rain and frost we're having in NZ, but it is winter after all... You're brightening up my day when I get time to read your blogs! The Europeans obviously respect you more for carrying your own gear which is just awesome! NZ not so flash on the medal count - sigh - but the whole thing is so addictive, shame it's on in the middle of the night here! Keep up the good work and be safe!
ReplyDeleteJane x
NZ has more than its fair share of great sports people. Great country too. Just beat the Aussies, that's all!
DeleteCharlie
Hello Daughter!
ReplyDeletei hope you had a good day yesterday and the weather was kind to you.
We have a lovely hot day today, really nice to be home.
O2 have let me know what needs to be done to get you up and running again. so hopefully you will have got my text.
I am about to venture out with my crutches on my own! so i may be some time!!
Take care lots of love
Mum xx
Andi is having a few access problems to email and her blog, well if she will travel to these remote places! She is still having an excellent time and loving every minute. She is missing the messages and hopes to be back blogging very soon. I'm sure like me, you will be looking forward to hearing the next instalment of her adventures.
ReplyDeleteJan - AKA the sister!
Thank you Jan for the update.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a fab time. You have inspired me to get out ont he bike again and managed a 15 mile steady ride on the canal. Hope you are online again soon.
Mandie x
The Olympics feel good factor ccontinues. Yesterday I came across a torchbearer in Bath who had been nominated for raising £130k for the Macmillan Cancer charity. There he was outside Boots raising more by allowing a photo with the torch for a small donation. Sports mad and vain this was too good an opportunity to miss so I now have a photo of me with the torch! How cool is that and what a wonderful way of spreading goodwill & raising money!
ReplyDeleteHi Andi ,,
ReplyDeleteJohn has sent me your blog link and at last I have read about your travels ,, I am in awe and envy your spirit of adventure, and have loved reading your stories.Thank you.Anyway you have not missed much of summer here as you probably know,, lost count now of the soakings I have had out on my bike this year, maybe next year i will get to the Alps ,,, with my bike in the car of course .. have a great trip Andi ..Stuart
Well done you, Ken sent me your blog add but have only just now looked and I really am jealous. Your pics look fab and it seems you are having a good time.
ReplyDeleteKeep the wind on yer bum, the rain off your hair and this blog updated!
Nicole M (otley cc)
Robbo
ReplyDeleteHi Andi. we were all talking about you at the cav today, we all agree that your blog is great and that you are a lean, mean, cycling machine. wish i was with you it looks fantastic.
Respect John R
Morning Daughter.
ReplyDeleteWe were woken this morning by the biggest clap of thunder ever!! It was really awful and the lightening to match. Very muggy now rain has stopped so fingers crossed it stays away.
We went to Street yestderday and guess what!! they have a Radley shop there now!! so i bought myself a handbag Blue Patent leather with a butterfly for a clasp! lovely!! i was so pleased i usually have to wait until we go to Cribbs to have a look in one of their shops.
We had lunch at The Highway Man just up the road from us, we won't go again food not very good, they have no idea about vegetables it seems none on the plate!
We are going to Chedder today as long as it doesn't storm anymore, we thought we would eat out so we don't have to slave over the oven. We know lots of nice places to go to there, so no risk today!!
Tom Daly won Bronze for his diving yesterday, a wonderful achievement for him, he is still only 18!!
Athletics always exciting to watch especially the relay!
Its nearly time for the games closing ceremony, i do think it has been a very successful games, we have done so well and the crowds have really got behind everyone.
I hope you are getting close to France for you to be able to make contact again. It's really nice getting your up dates everyday.
Take care and lots of love
Mum xx