Wow guys, this is the end! What will be next for me? Find out on my personal blog www.carpetbaggerk.blogspot.com
and if you want to see a short film about my trip, give me tips on how I can get funding to turn my footage into one!

I feel sad to stop cycling, It has been a great ride and now I need to thank:

All of the generous people who have sponsored- you gave this trip value
Gretchen and Gillian at Global Grassroots for all of their good work
Alan Rodriguez and Teamwork studio for making this brilliant website for me free of charge
My Mom for her constant concern
The French, I know I made fun of you sometimes, but seriously without the genuine kindness and hospitality of all of my hosts this would not have been possible
The couchsurfing project, check it out www.couchsurfing.com
for helping me to meet some wonderful friends like...
Arnaud, who said to me pre-trip when I was getting really nervous
"I think you are the only one who doesn't know that you can do this"

Well now we all know! this experience will stay with me forever and I encourage us all to continue to find unique ways to get active regarding our ethical beliefs.

Much Love!
Robyn

STAY IN TOUCH

When I say Chipaties don´t picture your favorite indian food, think fried dough, "Grapes of Wrath" style.

Yes after I left normal Cannes host #1 I returned to the "hostel" to get my bike which I had locked to the bed post and there i had another run in with the crazy guy. All joking aside I was really frightened by this guy, he was cornering me and shouting things repeatedly in my face in spanish. I pretended not to understand and raced out of there. I dont want anyone to worry though, I am fine but i had to tell you the true story. I raced out, I got on my bike and after a few details were organized, I rode on... well it rained againm on me and then my host due to problems at work was 2 hours late to collect me. He turns out to be very nice though a barcelona catalan very chilled out, I had a hot shower a good dinner, a long sleep and now I am making and eating chipaties cause he has no food in the house other than flour and water! I like chipaties they remind me of my favorite cave.

The photos...

Normal Cannes host#1


The port at Cannes




The greatest=before the rain=view from the corniche



and a map for day 28 the last day!


Mostra un mapa més gran

see you at the finish line

Well when it rains it pours but as hemingsomebody once said, the sun also rises.

This means, that after I left you , I spoke to mom who insisted on a nice dinner in a waterfront resturaunt to cheer me up and get me fed and calm, thanks mom! After dinner I returned to the famed hostel and was kept up half the night by the actually crazy guy, would you believe this(?), who was sleeping in the bunk beneath me. This man talked to himself out loud in some combination of spanish, french and grunt. When I finally felt safe enough, due to the presense of the other normal snoring guy, to insert my earplugs, it was easily 2 am. Any way I woke up intact and went out to see Cannes. Then a funny thing happened, it started to rain. This is funny becuase it has not happened yet during this whole month of riding. Well, unpreturbed I found a cafe and began to read my fith book "The Silent Planet"by CS lewis, yes sometimes I enjoy a bit of SCi-Fi, especially at times like these. Eventually the time came for my rendevous with normal Cannes CS host #1. We came here and had a good lunch and....then.... the sun came out. So it is blue skies again like nothing bad ever happened, and I'm going to pretend that nothing bad ever did.

Here in Cannes after riding 44k I was faced with creepy CS host #1 who sugessted that we sleep in the same bed in his crusty tiny apartment. At that point I bolted and then had to roam the streets for several hours before finding the one open "youth hostel" if you could call it that 20 euro for a bunk bed in a room with two guys who I havent met yet who live there and are "workers". Not to mention, with a cold water shower, the kind that you have to push over and over again and the mentally challenged manager of the place locked us out while he was trying to show me the door code, he then had to climb through the window and change the lock, i really hope that I will be able to get back in later- Well I feel crap officially, the only consolation is that after the second dentist appointment, my teeth have now been declared to be fine! what the? why do some men spoil the box? I will not be gotten down by these bad apples! I feel better now x

Hey all!

So the good news is that after 22k I coasted into Frejus to be met on the road by my now honorary French Aunt! In true Aunt style she was anxious for me to arrive, to make sure that i found her place, and to see that I was indeed riding and eveything was right. She beeped me over to the side of the road and thus we met. I followed her into town and then we preceded into her one room apatment, I get an air mattress! Afterwards she treated me to a wonderful seaside fish 'snack' meal, with a great view and began to initiate me into the world of her marvelous and far flung stories. This woman has done a lot in her 60 years! After the bad news- see below-we went to the beach and for a sight seeing tour, and now we are back home about to dine on some special provencal soup, yummm.

Now- the bad news is that I went to the dentist this afternoon in French and though the fee was not high, the news was grave, i have some sort of tooth infection so it looks like I will be spending the next couple of days in Cannes, going to the dentist 2 to 3 times for a root canal? I think, but I didn't quite understand the French so this is only a loose translation. Not pleased- well any way hopefully I will be not too heavily anethesized tomorrow and will post some pics!

xxR

me in St Tropez



avec Julie and Erik



Da view

Yay I did it, I am in Sainte Maixime and i officially passed the 600k line! Woo hoo, I was capable of this! I am proud. The trip is not over though I will still continue on to Nice as planned, so surpassing my goal can only be a good thing. That means one more week of blogging and more pics and maps and then when the trip is over, we don't have to part, you can continue to read about my travels and adventures on my other blog, will provide the link at the end.

So back to now + yesterday i rode 68k and arrived in beautiful Sainte Maxime very tired and ready for an ice cream, i procured one on the beach and then was soon met by my very cool host and his 6 year old daughter. I was immediately shocked and pleased to note that he spoke English fluently, something I have not encountered, with the exception of Susan, for many moons. I had a relaxing swim and continued to read "Everything is Illuminated", my fourth book for this trip- further evidence of the fact that I have not been able to talk nearly enough with my hosts due to each of our lack of fluency- before this I read, The Miscreant, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and A song Flung up to heaven- the 5th in Maya Angelou's series of autobiographies.

Any way, after reading, Erik and Julie whisked me away to their beautiful house on a hill overlooking beach and mountains, well I do feel like I have arrived! JK There was a gathering at their house last night with children running about, adults drinking and conversating, and cool aunts story telling, i could barely keep my eyes open and by the time the tart tropezienne was brought out i had to bow out.

Today we are going to spend our Sunday- French style in a combination of market visiting, cafe sitting, and explorations of nearby St Tropez.

I will post photos tonight!

Sometimes what I really need is a big Salad



This is an example of my nightly accomodation



I am really getting good at taking pictures of myself



Okay, yesterday I rode about 27k and then arrived in Hyeres, today I am hoping to go for a hike/ride on a nearby island if I can find it- my host is MIA, but at least he didn't kick me out of the house, he just disapeared himself, well one can't have it all I guess. Tommorow is going to be a long ride to St Maxime. Check out the map ... about 60k over the mountains!


Agrandir le plan

So now I am on the streets all day again, left to my own devices to explore Toulon, but that's okay there seem to be a few interesting things to do here. Like, visit the internet cafe and get snarled at by rude staff, or yelled at, by the check out woman at the supermarket for not haing exact change? Exact change, it wasnt a bus, it was a supermarket.

Any way happier news, I must thank Jerome of Six Fours for officially being a top host, the man gave up his bed and he slept on the couch, now that is couch surfing in style!

yesterday I crossed the 500k mark after a quick 15k toToulon, but I celebrated with a flat tire, boo! Luckily my skills seem to be intact and i fixed it! Yay! Tomorrow I head to Hyeres les Palmiers 20k, got to take it slow and see this beautiful stretch of land x

Here's the map


Agrandir le plan

Agrandir le plan

Tomorrow will be blissfully short not much more than 10k as I slide past the 500k mark I can afford to take my time a bit now!

This is video of my host, he is great and this is my first succesful video upload although i have been filming during the whole trip, so there ismore to come! Stay tuned x

26K And now I am here learning tech tricks


Agrandir le plan

The long and winding road from marseille




Lumiere cinema in La Ciotat



goodnight!!

There was this point during the constant ascent when I felt like my legs would give way and my lungs would fly out of my chest. It was a good time to get off my great bike and start pushing her up the mountain. For anyone who has ever drove the D559 from marseille to Cassis and cassis to La ciotat, less so but still, it is one steep mountain road. Well it kicked my but, but I made it! 37k later I am in La ciotat. I had to stop in Cassis for a three hour beach+book rest- that was fun, but my oh my, although I rode 63k on my last leg from Istres to Marseille, which was also hard and mountainous at the end, it doesn't even compare to today.

I shall sleep well!

A bit of beauty before I arrived in this big city...



my "highly organized" hosts



Some people make you feel right at home, while others don't.

Luckily I met up with Susan a couch surfer who is originally from L.A. but has lived in France for about 20 years. She showed me the best sights of Marseille, lunch with a beautiful view, the bus along the coast, the old port, and old city, even a wonderful north african sweet shop.

Thanks Susan you saved the day!

Tomorrow I head to La Ciotat

I just woke up to, "I am going to work in 20 minutes and there is no extra key so you have to leave too." in that cute laugh, 'there is no problem right?' french way!

talk more when they let me back in the house!! x

So I must sleep now, if possible in noisy Maresille. Sorry, no disrespect to Marseille but it is dirty and loud, I mean it is beautiful and I am just too tired to see it! Maybe tomorrow. I will call you when I wake Susan xxxR

Wow, my 'Paint' skills are getting out of control, how good is this map? It even has mountains on it! Unfortunately those mountains are not just on my map, in fact they are real, and tomorrow I must face them, so wish me luck!

Today was a lovely day, I went to La Coruune, a beautiful bay beach with my host, Fred. He's been cool, he is a member of the French Air force, and when he came to meet me with his friend yesterday they were in full uniform. I mistook them for police and was actually scared that they were going to arrest me, (I don't know for what) during the minute it took them to swagger over and introduce themselves, with the customary French three cheek kiss.

It was all good, no arrests were made and today Fred even showed me his photos from a peace keeping mission that he did in Chad 3 years ago.

Okay, I must give a shout out two readers, who are great friends, Zoe and Rach, much love!

And for the rest of you out there who are reading, let me know you are, leave a comment!

Until Tomorrow = A Demain

Today I was interviewed on French radio in Avignon about my trip and the situation in Darfur. V. exciting!



And I had a wonderful Cambodian meal with my host Vanda.



This is from yesterday, on the bridge to Avignon. Me and my music.



And the photo of my Mojito making host, something to go with the story!



Tomorrow its going be a long stretch down South to Istres

Avignon_______________Istres -improvised map!

No Photos for now, this internet cafe does not love me and my renegade uploads.

High Point of the day- I spent the whole afternoon conversating in French!

Low point-The wind

Today was a 50k ride to Avignon, through the cruel wind, but I had a little help from my friends, Otis Redding, Ani Difranco, Don Letts, The Coup to name a few kept me company on the ride. Thanks guys!

Now i'm chilling with Alice's sister, Vanda. Alice is a former student and friend of mine from Melbourne, she has been ultra kind in terms of hooking me up with French contacts. Thanks Alice.

Gotta go, my body is sore, it is crying on the inside. will post photos tomorrow x

Map for yesterday and Tomorrow



Anne Laure's family, my hosts for night 7 and 8



Excuse me for looking shady in this photo. I can't tell you why that is. Too much relaxing maybe. I am sporting my new Provence butterfly shirt, and I have just been treated to a day of good eating and sight seeing. It began with a trip to the open air market. very provence, and lots of fun, took heaps of video of the fresh produce and the crazy people. One such crazy man was openly following me around through the stalls. We deceided that he must be a thief and managed to escape unscathed. We came out alive with fresh baguettes, lavender and vegetables!

Then Anne Laure and her very cool mom and dad, showed me around Arles- the arena (Roman Colloseum), the yellow cafe that Van Gough painted, the old amphitheatre, the bulls which were running, again, well it is Feria this weekend, and my favorite, a market of regional cuisine from the Camargues. We tasted black rice, crab bisque, wine, cheese, and

And then we went home and ate lunch, followed by Choclate Ice cream cake

Anne Laure produced a copy of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" in English, at last a book to read! I began to wonder was I in Provence or Heaven?

Just kidding, its not perfect, I miss my mates and the customs of my home countries, but as my grandmother always says, never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

xR

Night 6-

Welcome to my one room apartment, I have no toilet paper, no internet, and you have to sleep on a cot.

After the initial shock, I remembbered that I love cots and he preceded to make me a mean Mojito, play some awesome funk guitar and cook a fabulous french meal. So what's that saying about a book and its cover? Jeff was a great host and then I woke up this morning at 7 (those who know me well are shocked, but that has been the order of the day as of late), showered, breakfasted and was on my way to a 66k day battling the unbearable wind.

I cannot describe to you how bad it was! The road was flat and through rice patties and vineyards... I decieded to stop into one of these chateaus for a tasting. I walked inside and a man rushing about indicated to me that they were closing in 5 mins. I negotiated a tasting though and we got to talking, switched to English and I told him about my trip. He aproved, said that he would donate online, and gave me this important advice...

According to Jean Pierre,

I am keeping a good Rhythm and am in Exactly the Right Place.

Well that's always good to hear.

As I arrived in Arles, I rounded out the first 250k. Week one is over and when i get used to standing without a crazy wind blowing me in every direction, I will venture out and explore Feria which begins tonight!

Pics to come and keep posting! I love hearing from you all x

This is the map for whatI rode yesterday



This is my leg. Hard to see in the photo, but the dak lines on it, are bruises! the bag on the floor, its broken, another casualty of the road...



This is the few from the apt I stayed in last night in La Grande Motte Sophia, was a great host, go women! even though, I barely saw her, she works a lot, she was lovelyto talk to over late dinner and was kind enough to leave me in her apt this morning to catch up on my blog. I will stay in this town again tonight with Jeff, and then tomorrow I am off to Arles!



ps If any one reading this, will be seeing me soon, i would love a book in English. Finished mine 2 days ago and am struggling! I read THE MISREANT by Jean Cocteau_V.good.

Hate-Lateness as a French custom
the language gap
princesses
eggs
the choice of Black tea or coffee for breakfast
being told things are easy which I know are not
waiting
people who drive badly
smoky bedrooms

Love- Movies
Swimming
that feeling of acomplishment
french cheese
fruit
good dreams
the obligatory post-ride shower
excited people
non-princesses
beatiful old bridges
sleep




me on the road



Maryannick



Beatiful old bridge

Tomorrow I will ride to Le Grande Motte and parc Camargue, will update again after that!

Whew hew, I am proud of myself. There were many moments there where I wondered if I could take any more wipping from the famous wind: Le Mistral... The sun was pretty hot as well, but I set a record for this trip and it was fun to ride into town around 5pm and see that my kilometer counter was flashing 110. So that means, I have completed more than a sixth of the trip and it is day 4, must be time for a rest. Today I will "keep cool" as Wilfred my present host likes to say in his broken English. We will explore the area around Maguio, maybe the beach, maybe Montpellier, maybe I wil keep my feet elevated and rest my little swollen ankles, who knows!

I will add some photos and maybe video later x

Here is the map for yesterday and today; I got to Nimes in good time, was there by noon to enjoy the great company of my host, his sister, her friend, his parents, and girfreiend. They showed me Nimes and took me by car to Pont Le Gard, which is a beautiful old Roman bridge/Aqueduct. We swam in the river Gardon underneath it and then we tasted honey of the region, from the friend's bees, Cote du Rhone and even some Ice Cream, American tradition but french style! all the villages, which each have about 650 residents near Pont du Gard are gorgeous and exactly how I pictured France to be. So here is to a great day in France.

Well I got some sleep and now it is time to Ride over 50k to Maguio, the longest day yet! wish me luck xx

It is now morning two, and I succesfully rode the first 27k to get here, to Brignon. The ride was good, I enjoyed it and it went by quickly. I arrived at about 4 and met my second hosts: The Typical French Family

Now when I say typical, I mean, wiskey drinking, chain smoking, gulf war vet dad having, late night fiestaing, pizza and sausage eating typical french. I must admit; I was suprised, as is revealed in the following photo...

They were awesome to me though, I can not complain. Enough meat to go around, a hand fixing my bike, a tour of the local running of the bulls and they even pulled out the special cheese!

Today I am off to Nimes- Another short day, I should be there by the early afternoon, in time to explore xx

That is T minus 0 hours for those who do not get my corny humour. Well i am in Ales and I am ready to go! I stayed with my first host last night, Marryannick and she has been so lovely and helpful. I will attach video of her and her thoughts as soon as i get plugged in more efficiently. She made me a flag so that everyone on the road will see me coming! oh no, I mean, oh yes x

I rode for one hour, walked for 30 minutes and did an hour and a half of BikramYoga (hot room, intense) Luckily after wards a couch surfing friend, who doubles as my french teacher and translator took me out with some of his friends. They told me to pass on the news that parisiens are not mean like Americans think. Agreed!

Hello everyone, thank you for reading and choosing to embark on this journey with me! At the moment, I am in Paris trying to arrange all for my trip, getting nervous and excited and most of all physically fit! Wish me luck!