CTC Cambridge

Wednesday 3 June 2026 

We woke early to the ship's PA system announcing our imminent arrival in St Malo. After a quick grabbed beakfast we made our way to the vehicle deck where our bikes appeared to be intact.Bikes were unloaded last (grumble grumble) and the French immigration procedures seemed more protracted than usual, even though they were not attempting biometric ID. As a result, we weren't cycling free until 0945.

After leaving St Malo we rode on attractive rural roads and soon enjoyed the characteristic rolling big dippers of northern Brittany. I've being feeling a bit queasy on the bike so when we stopped in Tinteniac for lunch opted for steak Tartare in an attempt to settle my stomach.

On then to Rennes, which was approached by a series of high quality road-side cycle paths running right into the city.After a pit stop we headed south out of town on yet more cycle paths. The intention of having them was good and the segregtion appreciated, but riding for long periods on such infrastructure can become tiresome when there is too much wiggling and negotiating junctions.

The last leg of the day had a series of short climbs, including a final 15% ramp up the hotel which we reached at 1915. The receptionists seemed diffident about us, a group of slightly demanding old blokes on bikes, until they discovered we were on a pilgrimage. It was as if a light went on.