The other side of the Bridge

Leaving Honfleur for Le Havre

Easiest time ever getting out of a town! Piece of cake....
However 20 miles took us a looong time beginning with-
THE BRIDGE
We didn't find any dead bodies mid way but we were afraid we wouldn't get ourselves across it!
It is:
a) steep as ....
b) the lorries/juggernauts travel at 100+++mph & they are huge
c) the cycle lane is just about wide enough for a child's scooter - without the child!!
Group decision- to hike over cycle - took ages- hot, bothered, frustrated but
ALIVE!!!!😜😊😍😉

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The pool we didn't use...

Marian's 'arty' pic

Hotel L'Ecrin. Tres beau... If a bit over the top.

Hotel L'Ecrin. Les bicyclettes

Very serious paying the bill!

DAY 4 HONFLEUR

Day of departure....

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SO...

Day 3 termine- all good, all still functioning and in working order- I think
20k to go to Le Havre demain- after a bit of shopping!
Cxx

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All happy 😜😀

OYSTERS FOR ME...

Jeanette...& H

Some hours later...

& many many miles and hill climbs we are here in Honfleur.
Gorgeous
G&Ts all round
Relief all round
& beaute restaurant recommended by Helens friend 'Jeanette'

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Happy days

Cidre flowing...

So Authentic

NOT!!!

Lunch stop....

High hopes...

Out of the Wilderness into lunch...

There is nothing out there... Where are the people, children, old folk-only noisy dogs! No coffee shops no bars no cafes only one lonely little Transport Cafe....

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A long way to go...

A little stop...

Tricky road...

More....

Beaute

Entering the Wilderness

OUT OF CLERCY.....

& still alive. Amazing ride lots of challenges, def' not an easy day but radical changes in country side and road surface- all added to interest!

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DAY 3

So leaving Clercy...
Colin Colin Colin WTF !!
Do you want us to come home safe & sound or do you have a secret 'boys' plan to eliminate your female companions?!!
Do you know that is a Cat1 climb? Well do you???
WE DO!! Never again- take note NEVER!!

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Slowly does it!!

DAY 3

Cath, Anne, Jules, Sal
If you had any cycling envy to date you will be glad you are not with us today!....
To leave our place today the only way out is UP A 5k (3mile) climb- eeek, ouch, argggggggh🙏😱😥🤒 au revoir my friends....x

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Worth the pain!

...and waterfalls and ducks and everything! Off for foooood

Arrive a Clercy- vv pretty

Made it thru the fans! Off we go, next leg....

Something to do with 2nd WW?

Getting thru the crowd of well wishers...

Our special M on the beer!

Resting bikes!

Chips for Kate!

Delicious Sausage...

Mechanicals cont.

So mechanicals took so long- missed lunch, grumpy Madam basically told us to **** off- well in not such blunt terms. It the was defo' the message!!
So now cycling on the right road we came across lovely 'fete' with sausage & baguette stall!!
So Sausages all round and chips for Kate... Oh and beers and Kirs and coke (cola that is!)

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All hands....

Close up...

Mechanicals!!!

DAY 2 St Hilaire du somewhere to Clercy...

Our shortest day but hilleee
🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵🚵(7cycling ladies)
- quite challenging!!....
A few mishaps
- 1 disconnection with bike and 1 grazed knee
- disconnect with belongings on back of bike!
- MAJOR mechanicals!!!
... Heading up v v scary hill/mountain!! Helens chain came off big time! Became trapped between spokes and cassette- Helens words 'the bloody major disaster '!
Spent lots of tIme including t/c to Nick for advice during which with the force of 3 powerful women it came free!!
Hurray
Irony: we shouldn't have been in that hill anyway!! Took the left below it and all was lovely, but.... There was a hill to be beaten! And WE DID!!

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HAPPY DOPEY GRUMPY

Not enough wine and nuts!!

En route

A hard hard fight against a never ending head wind! And long gradual climb so- quite challenging- Cath! You would have loved it!
However we made it thru a long day to St Hilaire. Good spirits and off for cuppa/ collapso!!

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:::& again....on its own...

...& again...

....& again

There it is!!

Can you see it??

Guess where we are??

Heading towards Mont St Michel

Really beautiful back roads

We've found ourselves in the USA

A rather different farmers market- it's a ho- down !!

DAY 1

Off the boat,good nights sleep, ready for action.
(No accidents en route !!)
& no photos I'm afraid as far too busy concentrating on staying on bike, following awkward Garmin and taking in beautiful St. Malo all at the same time....

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And one for the road....

In the boozer!!!

Raring to go!😜

We're on our way....

To who knows where...
Bit of a mystery trip this year owing to Kate hiding the routes from us,and now we've seen them we can see why!!
Ha just joking Kate!! Well actually not! looking at serious climb First thing on day3!
Oh happy deliriously nervous days!!


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