The French Connection

Over 700 miles in seven days touring the islands, châteaux and bridges of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley in southwest France

- Nigel Saxon

What's your definition of an adventure motorcycle ride? For me it's getting together with friends who share a love of motorcycles, and heading off for a few days on any two-wheeled machines.

There are no rules or preconceptions of where you should go or what you should ride.

A case in point is my recent trip with three friends through Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley to La Rochelle, returning via Le Mans. We're all of a certain age and beginning to take things easier workwise, with a lifetime of riding under our belts. Three out of the four of us attended the same school, but the main things that have kept the connection going for 40-plus years are motorcycling and an adventurous spirit.

At this point, my riding partners are well established with their own businesses. Roger, a watch company founder, Jonny, a farm shop owner, and David, an events company owner. We're all fortunate to live within half-an-hour of the ferry port of Poole and even though its only 68 miles from Poole to Cherbourg, the process of riding up the ramp, into the ship's cavernous hold and strapping down your bike help build a sense of anticipation that we're off to foreign lands!

Arriving in Cherbourg, we set our satnavs to 'no motorways, no tolls. Then we're off and running towards Châteaubourg, near Rennes, our first overnight stop, solely on single-lane 'D' roads (departmental).

We settle into an easy riding rhythm in an unplanned formation - Roger up front, the intrepid pathfinder, who is not shy of expressing his frustration with French drivers' interpretation of the Highway Code; followed by David, our very own Mr Slick; Jonny who keeps the humour flowing; and then me. I'm christened 'Captain Slow' for my leisurely pace, with any resemblance to James May (or Bill Murray - apparently my doppelgänger) purely coincidental.