Tour of Brittany Day Three: Plouider to Roscoff

Preview of the day’s ride recorded at Plouider on the morning of the ride. 1:17

*At last, the morning brings warm weather and blue skies.*

Our shortest day of the trip coincided with the best weather. We awoke to a proper Breton early summer’s morning; blue skies, a crisp coolness in the air, and the anticipation of a good day’s riding ahead. Today would only be a half-day, in fact, as after lunch we’d be on the ferry back to Plymouth, back too home and families and life off two wheels for a while. But it started in the best way: waking up in a comfortable bed, a good breakfast and coffee, and I even managed to take a few minutes out in the sunny garden to record some thoughts on the trip thus far.

Typically, when we started riding a small cloud appeared and obscured the sun, and magically seemed to grow over the next hour so that everywhere we rode was in shade, but the rest of the landscape was in sun. It was like being in a cartoon. Eventually though, the cloud decided that its fun was over and we were left to gently cook for the rest of the day.

We only had 37km to do, and most of the 335m of climbing came in the first 10km. It was a gently-rolling, steadily downhill route, and once we hit the coast north of Plouescat it was just a gentle roll along the local coastline. It was a perfect day for riding on great roads and if you had a bike, you were riding it. Groups of riders from local clubs passed us and we smiled and waved greetings.

Coastal happiness – rolling along on day three (0:38)

Every year, we take a few minutes out on the last morning and we raise a glass to friends we’ve lost over the years. It gives us a moment to reflect and helps me to value the time that I do spend with friends. I’m lucky enough to still be in touch with a few friends who I’ve known since childhood; we’ve grown up and spend most of our time apart now, but that somehow makes the time we do get even more valued. The annual trip with Graeme is more than just a weekend of lads on bikes; it’s the renewal of a 40-plus-year-old friendship.

For a while it seemed like this would be a fruitless hunt, but eventually we found a bar open on the beach at Santec, just a few kilometres west of Roscoff on a gorgeous, sandy bay. The perfect spot to raise a glass and reflect on a great trip.

And in a few weeks, we’d be back for the Tour de France.