January, and a new bike. It cannot just sit there until spring. It needs the 600 mile running in mileage to be done properly. So ticket to France for a long weekend. Ticket booked for the ferry - departure delayed as Storm Chandra swept through Southern UK, forcing travel delays. The planned long week-end got shorter by almost two full days. But still reckoned to have two full days to ride and get to know the bike - one hotel paid an extra night just to use it as a base for the day, without having to worry about check out times. Worth it for the €60 paid. Arrived in Laval B&B Hotel at night after a cold ride in the dark from St Malo. The door code given to me did not work at first - looked more closely and the number followed by * - success, warmth, more warmth and a vending machine - a large hot chocolate - and warmth ! Next day clear and cold. Let the morning traffic do its rush hour thing - and left the Hotel about 10.30 headed for St Nazaire on the coast and on the mouth of the Loire. Figured it to be a bit warmer on the coast and a nice day trip - and cross the big bridge that spans the mouth of the Loire. The roads were excellent, but mostly straight - not a winding route of twisties - but still great to see what the motor is like. Bike passes moving roadblocks of slow moving trucks with ease. Not so many villages along that route, so not stopping every two minutes to trundle through another one, after another. St Nazaire dockyard was busy - a working dockyard. I spotted a wall covered in graffiti art - very good. So crossed the lane of traffic - squeezed through the concrete bollard and parked the bike up next to the wall. The Pirate scene ON FAIT LE MUR - literally translated means - we make the wall. I did not know this at the time but this is also a French idiom - meaning to escape - to go over the wall ! we have made the wall to escape ! Went over the bridge - really high up with only a very small gap and railings between you and the drop to the river. Very close to the edge, with excellent view. Cruise ships pass underneath it without the bridge having to open. A few sad bunches of flowers tied to the railings at the highest point - one can only imagine why. Stopped to take a few pictures, and headed back to Laval. No rain all day. Paid the Hotel to use the room for the day - headed in the other direction, to Le Mans. Much more heavy lorry traffic on the back road. Lots of big trucks traveling in both directions. Sometimes traveling roadblock of two big trucks tail-to-tail and maybe a small car that does not have the power to overtake - what you need in such circumstances is a Z1100 (or similar !). Roads along there a bit more patchy due to the constant heavy traffic. Suspension needs adjusting, a bit harsh and jarring. Mulsanne straight - really wide for a single lane carriageway. Parked up for a few pictures and the end of the straight. Went to the museum, that is closed at this time. Directed to a temporary museum housed in a conference facility somewhere on the circuit complete with muddy field parking. Does not look very big for a museum ! But still, they charge €8 for two conference room with cars - but no ordinary cars. They have picked some choice ones from their collection - easily worth the €8 - not being shortchanged. They have some choice 24 Hour racing cars and upstairs a selection of F1 cars - including Lauda's Ferrari and Senna's McLaren ? (among others). That room alone is worth the €8 ticket price. The actual Museum will reopen in May 2026 with a new rally car section. Back to Laval after a full day out. Back to St Malo in the dark and checked into hotel less than 5 minutes from the ferry departure - to be there at 6.30 am in the cold and dark ( but dry !). Over those two days did 530 miles, run in mileage done - first service booked for next week and new tyres ordered (Metzeler Roadtec 02). A few pics: Laval B&B Hotel - cold morning, but clear and sunny Bridge over the Loire - epic view from the top On fait le mur - we have made the wall - to escape ! I was told this is a well known French cartoon Pirate family....well done anyway. I did receive thumbs up from doc workers who saw me photographing it. The Mulsanne Straight on the 24 Hour circuit - a public road. Gerhard Berger's McLaren ? Not really a car person but lovely looking F1 car. Quite a few others in the museum, suggest a visit when it opens with the full collection in May 2026. Back to Laval, and then early evening ride in the cold back to St Malo - some heavy rain - about 1 hr 30 ride time. Bike all safe, ready for short 5 minute ride to the ferry at 6.30 am. Job done, nice little trip, run in mileage done, some cold riding, but okay really. Not too expensive a trip. Roll on spring !
I think the best way to translate « On fait le mur » in English probably is « We’re going AWOL » (absent without leaves).
France is just so nice for touring about/holidays, picture perfect in the country side not been there for a few years and only mentioned to Mrsroadtrip the other day we should go there again soon, Been watching the new series of New life in the sun Channel 4 has got me thinking again and bought up the I would like a place there thoughts especial the kayaking down parts of the Dordogne river
