Just back from France, I’m in reflective mode... when I left these shores I should probably have told myself not to go off cycling, having almost come to standstill prior to departure with a bad back in addition to a starting-to-misbehave-hip: but my optimistic ‘inner self’ encouraged me, and I’ve managed, albeit by the skin of my teeth, stubbornness, and Paracetamol ...

I targeted 2000 miles this year, and told my hubby I didn’t want to come home until my bike odometer clocked up the magic figure. I’m chuffed to have done so. I’m no Sir Bradley Wiggins. I haven’t toured stylishly or fast - yet completing what I set out to do feels good.

We returned to Plymouth leaving Roscoff on Brittany Ferry’s Pont Aven at 9.30am. My hubby was doubtful about being dragged off to the main restaurant rather than the self-service option for his breakfast - but he’s now telling everyone it’s the way to do it if you happen to be onboard at that time in the morning (which I’d been telling him, having breakfasted that way before). Compared to other options this breakfast is great value - with soft, comfy chairs, beautifully laid tables, view to the bow and as much as you can fill up on for £8.50 including a waiter delivered pot of tea/coffee/hot chocolate. Yoghourts, dried fruit, fresh fruit salad, cereals, patisseries, warm rolls, wholemeal bread you can cut for yourself, butter, jams, honey, cheeses, hams, smoked salmon, and boiled eggs. If you pay another couple of quid you can have a cooked breakfast and access the continental spread.

Looking back on the trip I’ve asked myself were there things I’ve not yet shared about France? Yes... this year we cycled pretty much the full length of the river which flows from Mayenne to Angers where it joins the River Loire. After a couple of days alongside the River Mayenne we were very relieved to turn away from it: the water frequently sported fluorescent green swirls with a smell we both found nauseating. On return I’ve done some Googling and discover hydrocarbons have been detected in the water - which also cause the sickening odour. It’s such a lovely river, and I’m saddened: it may be considered a great river for angling - full of carp, tench, pike etc - but I don’t know how the fishermen, of whom there are many, can bear to sit by its bank-sides with vivid green swirls on the water breathing in the odious gasses.

France undoubtably has some serious pollution problems. In Brittany 6 beaches were closed at one point this summer due to dangerous algal blooms - which were linked to the death of two men last July. I’m told Brittany ( hugely reliant on its intensive dairy industry) leaches nitrates via its waterways into the sea which then cause excessive algae to prosper.

This year we’ve seen several burnt-out cars and motor bikes in idyllic places next to the River Loire - not pleasant to see, and close to where we were camping. Near Nantes I thought perhaps the burnt-out vehicles were a result of civil unrest earlier in the year. I suspect the others were linked with criminal behaviour and/or an effort to dispose of them without the possibility of identification. Not everything in France is rosy...