About...
Shaun
I have always had a love for travel. At the last count I had visited 35 different countries and would love to add more if the time and opportunity comes my way. The cultures of the Middle East are a particular favourite with those of South America not far behind. But travel for travels sake is not what it's all about. There has to be a reason to go. That reason, however, can be many things. Recently a desire to meet people away from traditional tourist destinations has been top of my list. Its 'off the beaten track' that the real culture reveals itself. Cultures that often seem hostile, or even dangerous when depicted by western media, can prove to be the most generous and open when you take the time to visit them. This is also true of countries that we often think we know, countries that are right on our door step. I am excited that this trip down to the south of France will reveal another side to France. I have enjoyed many aspects of the French culture, but it's the new that keeps me travelling. I have never tried to travel by bike and this trip will bring difficulties that we haven't yet foreseen, but our philosophy is to overcome these problems with low tech rather than the high tech approach. We are not planning our route in detail but instead aim to use local knowledge gained from local sources and to stay in small, local hotels, or chambre d'hotes. Generally following the coast and using local ferries rather than bridges to cross the rivers and estuaries. Maps and not sat nav's are the order of the day. This will take us longer but we hope it will be all the more enjoyable for it. Maybe my French will improve as well! The charity I have decided to raise money for is a local hospice and the job they do is second to none. I hope that you can take a moment to visit their site and see for yourself how they help local people. This is their website: St Nicholas Hospice. If you can, please donate on our Just Giving site, Wheezing Geezers. The site is recommended by St. Nicholas hospice and if you are a British tax payer, they can add gift aid to boost the total donated with tax relief. Thank you.
Dave
Dave has been living in France with his wife and daughter since 2004, moving from South Woodford in London. He has a degree in Graphic Design but has been an illustrator for the last 25 years. Since moving to France however, they have bought and renovated a house in the next village which they let out as a holiday home. Lindy, Dave's wife runs an Art Gallery and they have both been running a bicycle hire business for the past two years. They're both kept very busy!Bury St Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds is a mediaeval town which grew up around the gates of the great Benedictine monastery founded in 1020. In 1327, the Great Riot occurred, in which the local people led an armed revolt against the Abbey. The people were angry at the overwhelming power, wealth and corruption of the monastery, which ran almost every aspect of local life with a view to enriching itself. The riot destroyed the main gate and a new, fortified gate was built in its stead. However in 1381 during the Great Uprising, the Abbey was sacked and looted again. This time, the Prior was executed; his severed head was placed on a pike in the Great Market. Bury was a prosperous market town with a thriving cloth making industry.
Today the biggest industry is based around British Sugar. The Nutshell Pub in the centre of town is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as Britain's smallest pub, and is owned by local brewers Greene King. You can visit the brewery and take a tour of the brew house, visitor centre and brewery tap. Bury St Edmunds is also home to the Theatre Royal, the oldest working Georgian theatre in the country, and a selection of museums and galleries including the Art Gallery, Moyse's Hall Museum and the Malthouse.
Shaun lives there!
Navarrenx
First built in the 11th Century, Navarrenx was turned into a 'bastide' or fortified town three hundred years later. It's France's first ever fortified town in fact. It's on an important crossroads on the pligrimage route 'Le Chemin de St Jacques de Compostelle'. Navarrenx holds the 'World Salmon Fishing Championship' here every summer in the beautiful river, the 'Gave d'Oloron'.
Navarrenx is in an area called the 'Béarn'
in the 'Pyrénées Atlantiques'
department of 'Aquitaine', South West France. The area is famous for it's foie gras, Jurançon wine
and it's 'Aquitaine Blonde' cows.There is lots more information about the village and the surrounding area on our gite's website here.