I had an immense time on the tour. Channel to Med is a terrific itinerary. I love France anyway, but I was enchanted by the remote, majestic scenery and gorgeous historic villages and towns you took us through. All three of the guides were fabulous. Nothing was too much trouble and they were unfailingly delightful. I have to single out Rob for his poise and credibility as tour leader. Isabelle was the loveliest mother hen to all of us. Tony was helpful above-and-beyond when it came to my eternal bike hypochondria. They made every aspect of the tour a pleasure, and when that turned out to a bit of stretch (torrential rain, bloody hills), they were adept at adapting plans to increase comfort and morale at just the crucial times.
With regard to the comparison to the 14-day LEJOG, I thought C2M was overall more tiring (while one of my groupmates thought it was less gruelling than the 10-day LEJOG). The uphill gradients on the French route are less sharp, but they are so *long*. I managed to stay on my bike for the whole of LEJOG, even up the Lecht, but Mont Ventoux absolutely emptied me out (but was amazing too!). I ended several days absolutely shattered. I relish that feeling, but one does need to be prepared for it! The “Everest” comparison for the overall ascent in the two trips of two-thirds versus twice the height (or whatever it is) came to feel really relevant.
I hadn’t been on a bicycle for the previous 8months, so I did find the limits of not doing any specific preparation (expect to be nose-to-tarmac on some of the long hills; and be ready and enthused for a little light strolling and pushing up one iconic mountain…)
However, my experience was also that a basically active and determined person would be stretched and thrilled by the journey. I feel inspired. And I’m going to treasure forever our 84yo groupmate’s motto, that “anyone who hasn’t got off and walked up a hill, hasn’t tried a hard enough hill”