Tag Archives: Normandie

Day 6 – Le Mont Sant Michel

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(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.

Day 5 – Regneville to Mont Saint Michel

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After 80 kilometers and all that food, I slept really good. I woke up by the sun and the beatiful view infront of my tent. The morning tide made the scenery change once more.

As the tide comes in, it makes the birds fly away.

As the tide comes in, it makes the birds fly away.

After my morning shower, I started chatting with a French couple that pitched next to me. In the end they asked me to join them for some breakfast, as they were very well prepared with coffee, tea, croissants, breads, fruit and a lot more. I’d call that grand dejeuner rather than petit, but of course couldn’t complain as I had many kilometers to cycle again.

Lionel, me and Claire having some breakfast in front of the water.

Lionel, me and Claire having some breakfast in front of the water.

I cycled for about an hour through many coastal towns and in one of them I stopped to buy some supplies for a picnic. This time I rather than buying something ready, I got some bread, tomatoes, cheese and a big chunk of pate which I was looking forward to. Next stop was the nice coastal city of Granville. I found a nice spot by the beach where I had my little picnic.

Pate, cheese, tomatoes and bread by the sea. What else can you ask for?

Pate, cheese, tomatoes and bread by the sea.

Apparently you can jump to the water from that pile, when the tide is high.

You wouldn't like to attempt a jump from that pile when the tide is low.

After my lunch and my usual siesta, I started peddaling again to the south again. On the way I had to climp some of the steapest hills so far. Nothing like big mountains, but the continuing up and down in 32 degrees exausted me a little bit. I have to say though, that pate worked really well. Probable a lot better than any cycling food.=]

lala

This little rock in the distance is Le Mont Sain Michel, where I was heading to.

My plan was to get all the way to Le Mont Saint Michel, but 10km earlier I saw a camp site and gave up. It had wifi and a swimming pool so it seemed ideal. Also today I finished my first map and had to do the last section with a very basic tourist map, so tomorrow I’ll have to find a map for Britany.

petit_dejeuner