Brittany - North Finistère

Day 25 (June 29): Roscoff / Brittany - Limpaul Camping 100 km - 850 hm / Σ 1915 km - 17870 hm)

On the ship we were able to experience and enjoy the joy of the Irish with their traditional music once again. A young man was sitting on his suitcase with his accordion in the passageway, playing traditional Irish tunes virtuously. Others accompanied him now and then with flute and violin, and often some danced in pairs or girls showcased their skills. (see also Conclusion Ireland) There were quite a few, as the ferry was full due to the holiday beginning in Ireland. In the morning, upon arrival of the ferry in Roscoff, we are surprised by the view outside - thick fog. However, as we quickly notice, it is significantly warmer, so we can soon ride in short shirts and shorts. And as the day goes on, the clouds diminish, and in the evening we set up our tent in brilliant sunshine. Brittany feels like arriving in another world; we perceive such a big difference. It is initially flat, and there are beautiful, well-maintained small houses everywhere. On both sides of the roads and paths, we pass fields of onions, corn, artichokes, tobacco, and grain. The surrounding landscape is easy to discern. We make good progress; small climbs are quickly rewarded with descents. There are beautiful, long beaches with fine white sand, and the sea at low tide is characterized by large rocks. We had planned a vacation in Brittany years ago, but abandoned it due to the difficult arrival and departure with our bicycles. So we are even more pleased that it’s finally happening and we are enjoying our first day here. We set up our tent today in a nice municipal campsite in the dunes; we still need to ride four km to the restaurant, but at least there is one. It's an issue that will also occupy us in the coming days: balancing campground, restaurant, and shopping possibilities, as there simply aren’t many available. In the evening, we also realize that planning our return trip is challenging. On verra – says the French!

Day 26 (June 30): Limpaul - Brest 70 km - 800 hm / Σ 1985 km - 18670 hm)

It is a dream day; the sun shines from a cloudless sky, and today there are over 30 degrees - unusual for Brittany. And throughout the day, we really start sweating and search for shade during breaks, even though we had longed for the sun so much. In the morning, we ride along the northern coast, the views of cliffs and the sea are particularly beautiful. After 35 km, we reach the cape at the western end, where the coastline bends east towards Brest. There, a lighthouse, the national monument for sailors who fell for France, and the Abbey of Saint Mathieu create an impressive backdrop. After a few kilometers, we reach some small coastal towns. The remaining distance to Brest is simply a matter of covering the distance. Brest is not a beautiful city, likely due to its near-total destruction during World War II. We urgently need to plan the further stages and especially the trip home. In July, it is nearly impossible to take both bicycles on the train. All attempts fail, as for the main season, the bike space on the TER also needs to be reserved, and it seems there are too few places. The Flixbus helps - there is actually a direct connection from Paris to Basel, and on July 10, there are still two bike spots available. Quickly booked, then the train from Vannes to Paris. We squeeze an additional day’s stay in Paris, and the package for the return trip is ready. Dominique is not thrilled with the bus solution, but I am quite euphoric that we managed to sort this out. Let's hope it works out. We also celebrate in the evening that we have reached 2000 km (the trip to the ferry in Cork is included).

Day 27 (July 1): Brest - Pentrez 60 km - 800 hm / Σ 2045 km - 19470 hm)

The exit from Brest is easier than the entry yesterday. We follow the harbor for a while until we can cross the bay of Brest over a wide bridge. We ride on well-developed side roads over hills that the women in the Tour de France will cross in four weeks, until Doualas. There, we visit an interesting abbey from the 12th century. During our visit, we meet an Irish-English cycling couple traveling almost the same route as us and we have a great exchange about our experiences in Ireland. A few kilometers later, we arrive in Le Faou, a beautiful medieval town at the end of the Rivette de Faou bay. We continue along this bay for the next kilometers until we reach the bay of Douarnenez through hilly wooded areas. There are beautiful, long sandy beaches and campsites. We are happy that there is something to eat at one of the stalls - fish and chips.

Day 28 (July 2): Pentrez Ju - Cap du Raz - Audierne 70 km - 800 hm / Σ 2115 km - 20270 hm)

The day begins with a 'Scottish-Irish' climb, 320 hm over 20 km. And then we are in Douarnenez and back to zero. But it is warm and throughout the day the clouds completely disappear. After we have climbed another elevation right after Douarnenez, it becomes really nice to ride. We are at almost 100 m height on a wide road without cars and have a beautiful view of the Crozon peninsula with Camaret-sur-Mer, where we rode a piece yesterday. We make good progress and soon arrive at Ponte du Van, a cape. Between this and the more rugged Pointe du Raz lies a beautiful sandy beach well protected in the valley by the two capes, where many surfers gather at high tide. We ride back up and then to the Pointe du Raz. The rugged cliff, with a height difference of 72 meters extending into the sea, is one of the most characteristic points of the Breton coast. It is a tourist attraction, and accordingly, many visitors make their way from the visitor center on foot to the cape. We also take a longer walk and enjoy the unobstructed view to the west. After 20 km, we reach our nice, small campsite on the outskirts of Audierne. Since it is market day, many restaurants are closed, and we find a lovely small one in a side street and enjoy a very good menu.