France 12 august 2002
But the best plans go amiss
Monday 12th
0600 leave Trevor arrive Portsmouth for 1330
Over night at quality hotel Cherbourg.
Three doubles booked.
Boulevard de l’est 50100 Cherbourg
0233437200
Tuesday 13th
Leave Cherbourg to west coast. Hotel ibis la baule/ pornichet
Wednesday 14th
Leave west coast for le mans arrive at relais mecure
Three doubles booked
Thursday 15th
Stay at Le Mans hotel as above
Friday 16th leave Le Mans for Normandy Bayeux
Hotel continental
30/32 rue st patrice 14400 bayeux
Tel 0231926930
71euro 2 person including dinner
Saturday 17th leave Normandy coast for Carteret on west coast of Cherbourg peninsular hotel du cap
Hotel du cap, 50270
Barneville-Carteret
France
Sunday 18th
Leave Carteret for Cherbourg ferry 11.15 arrive Portsmouth travel home
And it all went pretty well to plan with only a couple of exceptions!
We arrived early at Portsmouth so we went for an ice cream on the sea front to waste an hour. When we got to the ferry port the fast ferry we had booked on had been cancelled engine trouble but we managed to board the cruise ferry which got us in to Cherbourg at about 1830. Good job the hotel was only 10 minutes up the road. So it was park bikes wash and brush up then a short walk into town for some nosh and drink.
Had a fast ride on the Tuesday stopped of at Granville for some lunch then on to Redon (one thing that sticks in my mind was when ever we where approaching a town the church spires always dominated the landscape) we just chilled out for a while then on to la baule (disaster). Because we arrived late old Jonny foriegner had sold our hotel rooms and the hotel was full. After much cursing and swearing we persuaded the manager to get us another hotel but it was 40 miles away.
Turned out for the better. Swimming pool good food but out in the sticks so we raided the mini bars in our rooms cost a small fortune. As we were out in the sticks we had some problems ordering food but after some clucking and mooing we got there only problem two people wanted oysters what noise does an oyster make.
On to le mans along the Loir valley stopping at Ancenis for a drink. We may have to go back to pick up some keys.
Stopped again for lunch at fleche another beautiful town
Then a sedate ride to le mans passing chateaux after chateaux set back off the road.
Two days in Le Mans there was racing on at the track so we decided it could be too busy and crowded to get to the museum at the race track.
Had a good wander around the old town then found a bar next to the most impressive cathedral I have ever seen
Next day it was back in the saddle for the ride to bayeaux .
Spend the afternoon looking at the tapestry very historic
(William the conqueror and that bloke who got an arrow in his eye)
No rush today, only a short journey so we payed a visit to the Normandy battle museum and a war graves cemetery. Called in a supermarket bought some smelly cheese and some even smellier smoked fish for lunch. Sat on the sea wall at Arromanches to eat. This was gold beach during the Normandy invasion. The remains of the mulberry harbour is still on the beach and in the small bay. Next stop Carteret for our last night.
The hotel was right on the sea front with views of the river estuary.
Awell a morning ride up to Cherbourg only about forty minutes away then home.
Through our entire journey the weather was brilliant too hot if anything for wearing leathers.
Still there was always the 1664 to cool us down.
If you look on the picture library you’ll find some pics of where we went.
I would like to thank john and Jeannie Hayward and Rob Scott (who is a work colleague of mine) for being such good company During the week.
Mal
