bluenotebob
Veteran
- Location
- France
Drove to la Chapelle Caro (south of Ploërmel) with Katie-Mae (my gravel bike) in the back of the van. 3km from here on the V3 Voie Verte to the Pont de Bagotais where I joined the Nantes-to-Brest canal. Headed east on the canal with various objectives in mind.
Through Malestroit with a minimum of fuss – apart from a closure to the chemin d’halage (towpath) which I’ll make a note of in the Eurovélo #1 thread. On to Foveno, Beaumont and St-Congard. Past le Port d’Oust (until today, the furthest east I’d managed to get to on the canal – and that was back in August 2017), the lock at Rieux, Chez les Moines (where the VAB leaves the canal and heads uphill to St-Gravé … I’ll come back another day on one of my mountain bikes and follow that trail) and onto St-Martin-sur-Oust. I’d been hoping I’d get here in 2024 and I finally made it.
Carried on another 5km to le Pont d’Oust and then a further 2.8km to the écluse de Limur … only 15km from here to Redon. That’ll be the next stage – but I’ll start from somewhere around St-Congard – and, with luck, I’ll get beyond Redon and make some progress towards Blain.
3 hours to get to this point – and a lot of that was faffing about taking photos. Headed back at top speed to St-Congard thinking that I’d be able to take a detour into the hills north of the Claie, then up into Pleucadeuc to rejoin the V3 … but hunger, tiredness, lack of available daylight (and the need for a roll-up) all conspired to make me decide that going back on the canal to Bagotais was the best option.
Back to the van at la Chapelle Caro and a completely forgettable drive home. But a cracking day out for early November, despite the mist and generally chilly conditions. 62km cycled in a shade over 4 hours.
The only tourer I saw all day: under the passerelle (footbridge) that takes the GR347 over the canal and into St-Laurent-sur-Oust
St-Martin-sur-Oust (on the opposite bank of the canal)
Le Pont d’Oust
The lock-keeper’s house at the écluse de Limur
North of St Congard, on my return journey
Through Malestroit with a minimum of fuss – apart from a closure to the chemin d’halage (towpath) which I’ll make a note of in the Eurovélo #1 thread. On to Foveno, Beaumont and St-Congard. Past le Port d’Oust (until today, the furthest east I’d managed to get to on the canal – and that was back in August 2017), the lock at Rieux, Chez les Moines (where the VAB leaves the canal and heads uphill to St-Gravé … I’ll come back another day on one of my mountain bikes and follow that trail) and onto St-Martin-sur-Oust. I’d been hoping I’d get here in 2024 and I finally made it.
Carried on another 5km to le Pont d’Oust and then a further 2.8km to the écluse de Limur … only 15km from here to Redon. That’ll be the next stage – but I’ll start from somewhere around St-Congard – and, with luck, I’ll get beyond Redon and make some progress towards Blain.
3 hours to get to this point – and a lot of that was faffing about taking photos. Headed back at top speed to St-Congard thinking that I’d be able to take a detour into the hills north of the Claie, then up into Pleucadeuc to rejoin the V3 … but hunger, tiredness, lack of available daylight (and the need for a roll-up) all conspired to make me decide that going back on the canal to Bagotais was the best option.
Back to the van at la Chapelle Caro and a completely forgettable drive home. But a cracking day out for early November, despite the mist and generally chilly conditions. 62km cycled in a shade over 4 hours.
The only tourer I saw all day: under the passerelle (footbridge) that takes the GR347 over the canal and into St-Laurent-sur-Oust
St-Martin-sur-Oust (on the opposite bank of the canal)
Le Pont d’Oust
The lock-keeper’s house at the écluse de Limur
North of St Congard, on my return journey
