Evening star., 1897-05-29
IoNE MONTH ABROAD

others who might undertake such tour
did they but know how to go about 1t.
Probably the information will be specially
of use to the many Washingtonians who,
tied down by business or home cares, have
dreamed for years of trip to the old
world. and still more particularly to those
who during the last few years have learned
the advantages and delights of short tours
on bicycles. but who have been obliged to
consider this only dream, on account Of
the time and perhaps the expense they
have imagined it would require. TO such
1t may come as matter for surprise that the
trip outlined below can be undertaken On
ssD. which could hardly be expended in a
way to give greater pleasure.
OF all western Europe, the PROVINCES OF
Normandy and Brittany, in France, and the
southeastern counties of England afford th>
pest roads. the most comfortable inns. and
the former in particular the most novel
people and customs and the most pic
turesque scenery. 1t Is through the sec
tions named that the trip under coasider-,-
ton VIII be made. Arrangements for the
management of the party have been made
with weii-known and experienced steam
snip and tourist agent and it will also be
under the guidance of two weIl-known and
prominent members of the League OF
American Wheemen who are enthusiastic
and accomplished wheeimen and cycle tour
isis. and who know the ground thoroughly.
The party will ride for two weeks through
Normandy and Brittany, with stop of two
or three days in Paris and will then ride.
back from Paris along the valley of tn,
Seine to Dieppe or Boulogne, and, crossing
either to New Haven Folkestone, will
ride up 10 London. Afte two or three days
stay in London in jubilee week the party
will ride to Windsor Castle, to oxford. anu
thence through Winchester and Salisbury
10 southampton. where the ST PAIL, sailing
on June 26 will again transport them to
New York, where they are due to arrive ON
July =. The trip has been arranged with
ths utmost care, and every arrangement
has been carefully thought out and planned
with the view to the comfort and con-
Venience of every member Of the party
All expenses of transportation, including
carriage of bicycles and light baggage.
board and lodging. and. in fact everything
which might require any of the time or at
tentton of the ordinary traveller is COW
cred by the sum charged for the trip, so
that an intending member of the party
need have no care or thought as to details,
but can give himself or herself entirely I'd
to the enjoyment of novel trip. To those
cyclists accustomed to touring in America
| the roads and the inns of France and Eng
land Will be revelation The route laid
| out. both in France and in England has
been carefully planned SO as TO include
stops at the most interesting towns, and
also so as to make the distance to be
! of ordinary riders. The journey will be
made leisurely and with abundance of time
TO visit cathedrals and other places of in
terest. while sufficient leeway has been al
lowed Tor possible bad weather, which is
| not apt to occur during June i'll France or
| England. June has been selected as the
| month for this tour because it is generally
cool. the roads are in good condition and
| the foliage and verdure are al their best
| During July and August the roads, in
France particularly. become too dusty and
the country too much dried up. while the
neat, though not as a rule as great as in
America, is still such as to make a cycling
tour too exhausting. 1t is thought that
| men and women who are employed and
whose vacations generally fall in July or
| August. but who may wish to realize this
! remarkable opportunity for wheeling
| trip abroad at little cost of time or ex-
pense. can for once arrange for a fort
| nights longer vacation and for taking it a
! month or 50 ahead of the usual time The
| start of the trip has been arranged pur-
| posely for the middle of the week and the
return will be made by the middle of an
| other week. so that only four full weeks
| will really be required.
| Briefly outlined. the itinerary of the tour
Is as follows: Leaving New York at 10
! O'Clock on the morning of May 2j on the new
! American steamer st. Paul Southampton
| will be reached on the morning of June .
Here the steamer trunks will be left and
| lighter baggage will be forwarded to Paris
| or London After day at Southampton
| a paddle-wheel steamer will be taken at
| evening for HaNre, which will be reached
| ON the morning of June ). On that day the
| party will ride only short distance to
Caen or Bayeux. passing through Trou-
| vile. the famous French watering place
At Rayeux are the famous tapestry manu-
factories. June will bring the party to
| Avranches. with lunch at St. Lo, and on
! the morning of June a visit will be made
to the worldfamed Mont ST. Michel, and a
short ride to Dinan will close the day.
| Fougeres or Rennes, with it's famous lace
MANUFACTURES will be reached on the
| evening of June 8. Mayenne or Laval on
June !. Alencon on June 9. Nogent on June
g. and Chartres. with it's great cathedral.
on June TO- and Versailles on the evening
OF June IL. After two or three days in
Paris the party will ride on June 13 or IA
to Vernon, the next day to Rouen, along
the beautiful valley of the Seine and will
come about June Is or 16 to Dieppe Here
If rain has not interfered with the sched-
ule. the party will ride to Abbeville and
thence to Boulogne, a two days tour. II
behind the schedule. the return across the
channel will be made from Dieppe to New
Haven, but IL not from Boulogne to Folke.
stone. From New Haven to Folkestone q
ride of two days will bring the party to
London through the most beautiful part
of England. If London is reached by June
| H. the party will leave there June 20 or p
and will ride one day to Maidenhead
spending some hours at Windsor Castle
and the next to Oxford. From Oxford the
| rue Will De 10 winchester, and thence
through Salisbury to Southampton, where,
on June 26, the st. Paul will sail for home.
Regarding a tour through Corsica q
writer in an English paper. in an article
| on the subject, has this to say:
1T Is as WELL when possible. to send q
days warning to the inns of your arrival
that there may be time given to kill the fat.
ted kid-the Corsican's favorite food-and
put your room In order: for though fresh
eggs and bread and good native wine (the
latter given. as water is In England. free OF
charge) are always to be had. meat re-
quires time to be caught. killed and pre-
pared. As regards language, there is nc
difficulty. French will. at least in the towns
and larger villages. be all-suflcing; and
though in the country districts the pic.
turesque peasants will jabber and gesticu-
late only in their native patois. they are as
a rule intelligent enough to understand
the travelling Britons classical Italian
especially II this be helped out by some
of the charming signs and gestures OF
which these interesting islanders are true
masters and adopts.
"It Ia. however. very necessary on such 6