France on 10,000 Calories A Day Without Gaining Weight
PUBLISHED ON: 07.29.2010
The advantage of being middle-aged is that you are more likely to risk stepping out of your comfort zone. That is what we did. We agreed to take a vacation with friends where our mode of transportation was a bicycle, a set of travel maps, and a hotel with good food at the end of the day.
I would hardly be described as a romantic but, I admit I had some pretty romantic notions of traveling through the Loire Valley of France on my bicycle. That was a good thing. If we had understood the reality completely, we would have said no. Instead, we said yes and we embarked on a travel journey that at least for me was life changing. My romantic notions were not fulfilled. I experienced something very different than I was expecting. My confidence, the capacity to endure, the determination to finish, the friendship that sustained us, made finishing this adventure possible.
Let me just say the food was fabulous, the people friendly, and the mishap of being pick-pocketed on a busy subway in Paris made for an amazing vacation.
I won’t bore you with all the details. I don’t like reading long blog posts and I suspect that you don’t either. Instead, I will bore you with photos. Indulge me.
Lynn
It looks like you had an amazing trip!
pam
Wow! I am hugely impressed!! Seriously! I want to see more pics!!! Or were you too tired to hold your camera?!
Susan McClaskey
Don't worry about \”boring us with detail…\” More please! The trip look amazing. How many of you speak French?
From the Kitchen
I didn't expect to take such a lovely (strenuous) and delicious trip this morning but have enjoyed it all–to be honest, the food most of all.Best,Bonnie
Julie
What an amazing trip that must have been! Beautiful scenery and fabulous food. Also, I am so impressed that you did this by bicycle!
Joanne
I think whenever I go to france, this is the way I'm going to do it. you get to eat whatever you want and not feel guilty at all! I'm so impressed by you.
Rita
Fantastic post! I do really admire what you did; it takes courage. France is hilly for sure. Bravo to your son whoe kept you going. Welcome home!Rita
TKW
Girl, you are amazing. I stand in awe. What a terrific way to explore France!
Recipe for Delicious
Velva, I'm so jealous yet so terrified of what you did! Congratulations on taking a chance. Your rewards were many, but nice that they included food!
Lori
What a fabulous trip! I want to take some bike trips in Europe, but we haven't fit it in yet. I think we'll do a little more exploring and then head back for something just like this. France would be a wonderful location for it with the countryside and food. It looks like you had an amazing time!
Cathy
10,000 calories a day is just about right. We didn't bicycle but I was sure my daughter was trying to kill me by walking me to death in Paris. For the first week my legs were on fire every night. Love your photos, Velva.Sorry about your metro incident. No fun and scary.
Unknown
What a magic post! O to have been there!
Anonymous
Oh I'm so happy you had a wonderful time in France with family and friends! Looked like a lovely vacation.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
Excellent pictures! Glad you had a good time!! Thanks!
The JR
Only the prospect of a delicious meal could have gotten me over those hills. Part of the reason I don't own a bike now other than being scared too death of the country road drivers is that we live in a bottom.Hill going up on both sides of our driveway.
Big Dude
Looks like a great trip – except the bicycling part of course.
Claudia
Oh Velva – what an adventure. What a memory and what a grand way to be with with family and friends – experiencing all together. Even when it wasn't easy. Brava!
Ana Powell
Amazing trip, I must congratulate you. I would never have done it on a bicycle.Thanks for sharing your vacation with us, great photos and lovely dishes.Wishing you a great week ♥
Tracy
I am so jealous 🙂
Rosaria Williams
My goodness, you were adventurous! But then, that's what we gain from stepping out of our comfort zone, a new perspective and appreciation. Now we know why the French are so skinny.Looking forward to your interpretations of these lovely dishes.
Annie
Looks like you had an amazing trip! Love the scenery!
ann low
Oh..Look at those amazing pictures making me so jealous. ;DD
Unknown
just wonderful Velva!!
Chris
Jealous! Laughing about the hills, at least he only had to \”talk\” you up them. On our first group ride in Tennessee, I literally rode beside Alexis with my hand on her seat/butt, pushing her up the steep climbs! What a great trip, I am envious.
Katerina
France is a beautiful country and you managed to capture its beauty with your great pictures!
Barbara
Congratulations, Velva! I am so impressed. I love the post title and I bet it's true!Super photos!
Kim
I'm so happy for you Velva! What a fantastic opportunity to vacation with great friends in one of the world's most beautiful places. I agree with the other readers- I'd love to see and hear more about the trip!
Faith
What a wonderful trip! Everything is gorgeous!
Sharon Rudd
What a memorable trip! Sounds like you had a lot of fun, except of course, when you didn't 🙂 Great photos – thanks so much for sharing with those of us who don't get to go to such spectacular destinations.
Anonymous
Fabulous photos! I would LOVE this trip–just not on a bike!
Fresh Local and Best
You are so lucky to be able to experience different places, cultures and food. I would have picked those cherries too, it's too tempting!
Diane
Great post and wonderful photos. I know just how hilly France can be as we also cycle. Our holiday in the Dordogne was the hilliest we have been on, we have not yet tried the Pyrenees !! There is nothing much that is flat around our home either! Diane
Keri
WHOA!!! I'm going to go eat worms now.
Sook
Yummy food!! I would love to go to France one day! 🙂
Jen_from_NJ
Good for you Velva! It sounds like you had the vacation of a lifetime!
Hungry Dog
What an adventure! I'm so impressed. And: welcome home!
Reeni
I think that is just amazing that you biked everywhere! The pictures are gorgeous and the food so delicious looking!
Julie
What an amazing journey! I would have had to have someone to push me up those hills!
Susan Fields
Beautiful photos! I guess one advantage of biking through France is less opportunity to be pickpocketed. 🙂
Foodiewife
I don't like to read long and boring posts. This wasn't boring at all. I could not do a bicycle trip like that. What a great adventure. What a lifetime of memories! Great read.
Tanna
That sounds like a PERFECT vacation to me! My hubby would be less willing to indulge my inclination to take a bicycle vacation! LOL! Exertion + good company + good food and wine = perfect good time!
chow and chatter
oh wow your brave I love France and your right food is heaven good for you for cycling loved the snaps Rebecca
Rachel Cotterill
Did I tell you that we cycled around Iceland in 2006? Incredible and exhausting… but we camped out and the food wasn't great! This looks like luxury 😀
Penny
Wow Velva, what a trip! I am so envious. We are determined to do France next year, but I think I am too old for the bicycle. I am looking more toward a cooking class. Post more of your adventure.
a-man
Lovely pictures from you Tour de France!Thx.
Mimi
Fantastic trip. As they say a picture worth a thousand word.Mimi
Chef E
Glad you shared the photos and food, oh and drinks! Great trip, I am afraid you would have to tie me up and drag me behind you when you got in super duper shape, lol, otherwise I hope to do it myself when I lose weight! You guys rocks!
The Rowdy Chowgirl
Wow! I am so impressed. I've thought about doing a bicycle trip in France someday and this is really inspiring. I wish you'd go ahead and write some longer posts with all of the details–I'd love to hear more!
Kim
That sounds so fun. I would have been in your boat too. Puffing and huffing.
theUngourmet
Biking in France! What a wonderful way to spend part of a summer. The food is gorgeous! Glad you had a great time!
FOODESSA
France is stunningly beautiful at that time of year…especially the cherry bonus ;)Big applause for challenging yourself that way. I've been wanting to do something similar in Switzerland…however, walking would be my choice.The food looks so appetizing…ahh France is special ;o)Thanks for sharing a mini version of your trip…I wouldn't of minded a few more details ;)Flavourful wishes,ClaudiaP.S. It was nice of you to have come for a visit…it gave me a chance to discover your blog again.
LaDivaCucina
HI Velva, thank you for a wonderfully eye opening post. My husband is going to take me to Paris for a special birthday in a few years and I'm a bit ambivalent about spending time in yet another city.(although everyone tells me how fabulous it is) Your cycling through the countryside has piqued my interest though and I might even suggest we do something like that to counter the city side of the trip! Merci!
Miss Meat and Potatoes
I am so impressed with you! What a vacation! What a (nonstop) workout. I don't think I'd have been up for the cycling bit but I bet there's no better way to see it. Go on with your bad self!!
SuziCate
Thank you for letting me go to Paris with you. It was everything I dreamed…and yes, the food is what I dream about in Paris!!!!!