From Brugge we trained it to Bayeux on the Normandy coast. Bayeux as you know is home to the famous eponymous tapestry which I enjoyed immensely, even though it is really an embroidery. Thankfully the good ladies who stitched it had the sense to number the panels, making it very easy for modern audio guiding to occur. Looking at Halleys comet as depicted in 1066 reminded me of staring into the night sky in Ballarat, hoping for a glimpse, before falling into the fishpond as a flash of comet sent me stumbling forward.
I rode to Arromanche and along the D-Day coast as well. Arromanche was in full memorabilia mode and even staged a ceremony at 10am. I think it may occur most days during tourist season. One pretty fishing village, Pot de Bessins, sported a fish market and loads of fisherman mending their nets on the quay. The harbour was well protected and it was clear that the tides must be in the five metre range, judging by the high-sided harbour walls.
There was a plethora of campervans vying for road space so pretty soon we left the coast and headed inland in search of calvados. We found what we were looking for. After small and tasty samples, we settled on a couple of bottles of pommeau, an aperitif. When Maureen toppled off her (stationary) bike we were more concerned about our cargo, and it was left to a local woman to pick her up from the roadway. Fortunately the bottles remained intact as did Maureen.
Cycling through romantic stone villages with gardens tumble full of roses and summer profusion has to be a chief highlight of my life. Normandy has much to offer the visitor keen on Arcadian views and tasty food and drink. One of our best rides of the trip was from Bayeux to Caen, where we caught a train to Tours. Caen boasted a vibrant market so it was baguette and rabbit terrine for lunch as we clackety clacked along.
We also made a trip to Paris. A highlight also. We walked our legs off and managed to complete a circuit of Eiffel Tower, arc de Triomphe, Champs Élysées, Galleries Lafayette, Pigalle, Montmatre, Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame. We piled onto our TGV to return to Tours happy and weary and enjoyed a fantastic dinner in a little Tours cafe. Even Ruby couldnt finish the THREE GIANT profiteroles stuffed with ice cream and chocolate sauce.
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| Not the profiteroles |
Then it was on the bike again for the Loire Slogfest. Not many people would cover 240kms in two days but we did, the last in blustery strong head winds and intermittent rain. If you should do this ride, begin further east than Tours and don't ride past Angers. Scenery, chateaux and food is better further up the valley. Of course we had no time to actually visit any chateaux, just sped past and hardly even managed a photo.
Next stop is Toujours. Tout les hours, in fact.
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1 comment:
Lovely riding
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