Tag Archives: day off

Day 10 – Saint Brevil

Today I woke up late and decided to take the day off again even if I wasn’t really planning to. It was a sunny morning and a good opportunity for a general laundry. I had also run out of map, so needed to get a new one for ‘Pay de la Loire‘.

Marion, me and Aline

Marion, me and Aline

Last night I met two German girls that they were on a cycle tour as well. In the morning when I got out of the tent they kindly invited me to have breakfast with them. Aline and Marion started their tour about ten days ago from Orlean and did the whole cycle route that goes next to the Loire Canal. It’s the second time cyclists suggest me that I need do this route as it is very beautiful with very nice villages and many castles on the way. After a long discussion with them and seeing their photos, I started seriously thinking of making a long detour to my trip and cycle over that route, but in the end I decided against it. It would need at lest a full week and I would sacrifice other places I want to visit. Maybe that’s a good reason to come back one day.
After breakfast, I did my laundry and headed for the town to look for the map. I also looked for a gas burner as that’s something that I am still missing. But how stupid, the only supermarket in town that had them, didn’t have the correct type of gas canister to go with them. So I am still unable to cook my own meals and prepare a cup of tea in the mornings.
After a short visit to a cafe for some internet access, I spend the rest of the day in the beach. It was probable the first time that I actually relaxed so much. I even started reading that book that I’ve been carring all these days with me, which I already really enjoy.

The endless beach in front of the campsite

The endless beach in front of the campsite

Kite surfers after a hard day at work

Kite surfers after a hard day at work

For the night, me and the two girls had reserved some peaella in the camp site’s animation evening. As far as I understood, they are calling animation all sorts of etertainment events for kids and famillies. I think it’s very common some French famillies will keep revisiting the same camping, where they know each other very well. The food and the wine were good but when the French people all started singing and dancing their own special music, we politely dissapeared.

Crazy local

Crazy local

Day 6 – Le Mont Sant Michel

(20km)

Today I took the day off! My legs needed some rest, my cloths some cleaning and my blog some updating. On top of that, I was near a very good highlight of Normandy, which is Le Mont Saint Michel. So after I woke up I made my way to the island which is connected just by a thin strip of road. Its surroundings is  either sea or sand, depending on the time of the day and the tide.

Approaching Saint Michel

Approaching Saint Michel

The last two kilometers on the way were jammed with cars and tourist coaches. Luckily my unloaded bike made its way efforltlessly. When I got in I said WOW! First from the amount of people crammed into the small alleys queueing at the tacky restoraunts, but mostly by the amazing medieval forstress I was getting into.

Mont Saint Michel

Mont Saint Michel

The Saint Michel from within. Beautiful, but packed with tourists.

The Saint Michel from within. Beautiful, but packed with tourists like my self.

I made my way to the top, but didn’t wait an hour to pay and get into the top castle. I just walked around it, ate the baguette that bought earlier in the day and enjoyed the view.

The view from above.

The view from above.

The endless beach

The endless beach

After my afternoon walk, I bought my next map from the local super market and a couple of bananas and  started making my way back to the campsite. The rest of the day was washing up clothes, maintaining bike and internet to catch up with emails and skype family and friends. In the afternoon I started chatting with a couple that were also on a cycle tour. We ended up having diner together, along with wine and some brandy. Steph and Kit started their tour today from Saint Malo and they are planning to finish it somewhere in East Normandy in about ten days.

Me, Steph and Kit

Me, Steph and Kit

Anyway… time to bed and I hope those socks are dry by now.