OMG

 What an intro to France!

The Channel crossing was flat as a tack. I experienced a tiny moment of fame as I rode proudly onto the ferry beside a couple on a Harley Davison whilst the cars waited for us to board.  I was first off as well.

Then everything deteriorated.

Ready to go, I turned on my trusty navigator….NO MAPS… what the…?  I tried every setting. No luck. Oh well I could picture the map in my head and I had a map book…should be easy peasy… Wrong!

Cycling out of the busy city of Le Havre without a detailed map was a nightmare.

I tried to ask directions. The people were willing but the language issue blurred the directions to the point where I found myself on the M5 Motorway.  A definite BAD MOVE. To add to my difficulty there was construction work going on, large concrete barriers made it one narrow lane, dipping under bridges and uphill again with me fresh off the ferry busting myself to keep ahead of the honking shouting car drivers. Oh dear!

It was a long time before I was able to scurry off an exit to an industrial zone. I almost moved to the left hand side of the road at an intersection but just caught myself in time. After asking directions again…all in French but I managed to catch some familiar words and was able to repeat them with much nodding and gesturing on both sides I then rode off the wrong way!

The man yelled and gestured some more and I was on track. It was very hot.

Aha at last I found the velo route. Hooray. I cycled up the estuary past scattered parked cars. The local were all out blackberry picking on the roadside. I stopped and ate a few as well. Yum Yum

The first bridge was a huge high rise structure. It would have been like climbing a mountain to ride up it. It was part of the motorway though and not available to cyclists. Onwards I rode, upstream to Le Pont Tancarville. 

I stopped and chatted with a German cyclist who was also struggling to find his route. It was quite a complex bit of road construction. We were going in opposite directions so were able to help each other a little.

It was quite a climb over the bridge and I daren’t wobble as the cars were skimming closely by. Two French gentlemen gave me a clap at the top and another couple took my picture as I passed.

I found my way to the very picturesque village of Honfleur. It was wonderfully old world French.

I went into a shop to buy a little food for a night in a camp park. I picked up some fruit and then was busy trying to understand what was in the packets and cans when the shop assistant approached all hot and bothered. “ Vous manger la pomme” she said accusingly. I had absent mindedly pulled out my half eaten apple from my back pocket and was having a couple of bites. She thought I was stealing it from her shop. Luckily it still had the English sticker on. I never thought I would be so glad to have a sticker on my fruit. She was very apologetic but there were some sticky moments.

I enjoyed the next scenic bit but it was getting late. Riding up over the headland I twice detoured about 3 – 4 kilometers following the signs to a camp park. I didn’t find either one. 

By this time it was raining heavily, was 6.30 pm and the light was fading fast. I had my rear light flashing. I was getting very anxious so after asking directions once again I found myself in a hotel for the night. Better than a tent given the weather but very expensive and very basic. I trailed so much water in that I asked for a mop. I think I got a few brownie points there.

There are no tea making facilities in my room. I would kill for a cuppa or a glass of wine but I was showered and into my pyjamas before I noticed the lack. A bright idea came to me. I went and got my camp stove and was just about to light up when I remembered smoke detectors. Thank goodness I thought of that in time. I probably would have been kicked out of the hotel.

I have a long sausage for a pillow. At least it is cuddly!

The toilet is a shared one!

Tomorrow will be better I know.

I have managed to download my maps for a start. All I really need now is to be able to communicate more easily.

I wrote this to get it all off my chest to all of you.

Good night all. I should sleep well now.