France 2012

It's now becoming a habit to escape the East Texas summer heat by spending several weeks in France each year.  This year is no different.  The plan is to visit the Alps, the Pyrenees, and Provence over the next several weeks.  I will occupy my time by riding my bicycle, spending a week in an intensive French course, and working on some math projects.

Amazingly, I have adjusted to the time change.  Actually, for the last ten days or so, I really haven't had a set time zone.  Last week I was at a conference in Seattle and took a red-eye flight back to Houston on Friday night.  Then I packed for France and caught a Monday afternoon flight---Houston to Amsterdam to Geneva, where I picked up my car and drove to Ugine (near Albertville).  I am staying at the Hotel du Bourg.  It's nothing fancy, but the location is great.

Itinerary

• Alps near Albertville until Sunday, June 24.
• Haute Pyrenees and Ariège Pyrenees until July 7.
• A week at Crea-Langues in Provence to work on my French.
• Back in the Alps (Bourg d'Oisans) until July 26.

Things that I have found out (or already knew)

• Be nice the the airline people.  Up until April bicycles were just another piece of luggage on both KLM and Air France.  Now, traveling with a bicycle will cost you an extra $150.  Since I bought my ticket in December, I was technically okay, but you never know.  I have a Pika Packworks Bike Bag.  It's pretty compact and doesn't look like I am traveling with a bicycle.  The ticket agent asked if I had a table in there.  I decided not to lie since I am not very good at it and admitted it was bicycle.  He smiled and said that he didn't hear me.  He marked all of my luggage priority too.  I hope that he had a great day.
• Pack your bike carefully.  The airlines didn't hurt the bike, but I twisted a few links in the chain when I packed the bike.  Also, one of my Walmart carbon fiber bottle cages broke---probably from packing things too tight.  I now have a new chain and two new bottle cages.
• If the trains aren't practical, leasing a car is the best way to go.  Renault picked me up at the airport within 10 minutes.  Everything was prepaid and I was on the road 20 minutes later.  
• I took the scenic route back from Annecy yesterday.  The GPS in my Renault Clio doesn't always give the most accurate directions.  Serena (yes the GPS voice actually has a name) can be a little off sometimes. Maybe Jane will be more reliable.
• When packing you will forget something.  Fortunately, the only thing that I have forgotten so far was a electric plug convertor.  I was able to find one here for a couple of euros.