the family at the tables and chairs set up on the pavements. After parking our bikes we walked around looking at the stalls and stopping to be entertained by the young belly dancer and piper and found a nice cafĂŠ for a soup and roll as we didn't choose to wait in the queue for the free goulash. Regrettably when we got back to the bikes my saddlebag, toolkit and Ralph's pump had been stolen. We had met up with some of the Bournemouth group having lunch earlier and knew they were about to set off, but found three bikes belonging to our Cambridge friends where we waited for them to return as Ralph had left his tool kit at the hotel and we didn't fancy the 18 mile ride back to Denia with the possibility of a puncture etc. However our three friends showed us an even nicer route out of Olivia and escorted us back to the hotel without mishap. In addition to our daily cycle rides the holiday also included several free half and full day coach trips which were very well received by our non-cycling wives and also some of the riders who fancied a different trip out. Several of us also too the coach to Valencia, visited the museum and toured the centre of this very interesting city. On the return there was a boat trip on a large freshwater lake where we saw many wild fowl. Another excellent day out.
Big Bike Ride 2006
We found the Spanish drivers very considerate and many of the roads particularly free from traffic. The bars and cafes very good and certainly cheaper and very friendly inland. The weather was very nice and we are all nuts about going to Denia again. So it looks as though we already have a capacity booking for 2009.
VĂŠlib scheme hits Toulouse Toulouse is following in the footsteps of Paris with its own cycle scheme which started its roll-out last November. By the end of April this year it is anticipated that there will be some 2400 bikes for hire at 253 locations in the city. The bikes seem to be similar to those in Paris as regards design and weight with carrying capacity and three speeds. There are various levels of subscription to the scheme but the shorter periods will probably be the only ones of interest to visitors. The first half hour is free and the cost is indicated at 1 euro for 24 hours and 7 euros for a weekly ticket . The scheme could well be useful for those who take a short break there and want some transport to get around but the fact that there are now so many cycle paths in the town and the surrounding area is good news generally for anybody who is touring in the area and along the Garonne/ Canal du Midi. www.velo.toulouse.fr
Cycle Ink #148
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