Well we set out bright and early off the Rosslare to Roscoff Ferry, two young (ahem) bikers on their second big trip (the first trip will be coming soon…) to France. Our aim on the first day was to travel the 571kms a little town on the river Cher called Mennetou sur Cher

We arrived in Mennetou sur Cher at about 18.00 after a few pit stops in some ever improving Aire’s on the motor-ways which intermingle Morlaix, Rennes, Le Mans and Tours and pitched our tent for the first night at the municipal camp site (and very cheap – €2 per night) – Val Rose.

After a long days ride we wolfed down some grub in a lovely little Pizzeria and a few beers we moved to what looked like a shed with a markie attached to the side where we partook in some Vino Francais before retiring to our respective tents.

The next morning we packed up our soggy tents (those dews!) and hit the road towards Clermont Ferrand where we planned to drive to the top of an extinct volcano before continuing on to Millau for two nights and our first experience of Paragliding.

Just before Lunchtime we arrived in Clermont Ferrand, one of the oldest cities (and twinned with Aberdeen in Scotland) in France where we climbed the winding roads to Le Puy de Dome which we had planned to drive up but due to the deterioration of the roads we would have to wait until 2012 (yes 2 years).

We weren’t up to the Volvic Challenge (Volvic comes from Clermont Ferand) or hiking up a volcano, so we found a nice little restaurant at the base of the volcano surrounded by parked French bikes of all shapes and sizes. After a monster feed we hit the road again for Millau

At around 18.00 ish we arrived in Millau (after a brief glimpse of the Viaduct, although this would be remedied the following day). We planned to stay in Millau for two nights with the hope of attempting Paragliding and seeing the sites. That night we met to fellow bikers who haled from France and were on their ways home to the wives. We partook in quite a number of bottles of fantastic wine after-which we were shooooshed to bed.

The next morning (not so early) we made our way around the corner to see if we could get some air although we weren’t over confident as it was quite windy. Our fears were warranted as we were given the bad news, we decided to leave a mobile number if the weather conditions changed and hit the town.

We had a good wander around the town, refueling as we went but no call came so we decided to get an early night with the plan to get up early the next morning and see if the weather conditions had improved.

Unfortunately the next morning the wind hadn’t died down so we went for a blast around the winding roads of Millau up to the Viaduct for some snaps, then onto a lovely little village for ice-creams and back to our campsite. Some dinner, a few drinks and we hit the hay for a good nights kip in preparation for the trip back up the St Malo via a stop over in Mennetou sur Cher.

After a good spin we arrived in St Malo were we high tailed it to our now usual campsite and usual spot (we stayed at the same campsite last year and yes it was the exact same spot), we had a quick look for John’s Croc (http://www.crocs.com) which was cruelly left for dead on our last trip.

After a brief search for an ATM and a wander around the beautiful town of St Malo we found a great little bar were we had a few beers and what equated to a bottle of their house wine we headed to bed.

Home sweet home, well nearly, we set out after packing up for the last time (thanks be to God) towards Roscoff, room had been made for our the 6/7 bottles and half the cheese in France we picked up in E-L’Eclerc not 10 mins from Roscoff port.

We boarded the ferry early, ate and drank our fill until retiring to bed for what seemed like the first time sleeping in a proper bed in ages and ages, reminiscing on the trip and what the plan was for next year.