Tues 23

Pack and head for Amiens. Lot of pedestrianisation going on there so things were a little chaotic. Cathedral adorned by usual scaffolding. Manage to extract myself and head towards Rouen before branching off to Poix de Picardie to camp. bought tape from local supermarket to try and repair tent. My french not brill so hope tape does what I think it says it does!
Days shooting by.

Weds 24

Off to Rouen to look for campsite on northern outskirts. Get totally lost as many roads did not allow bicycles. Ask at bar but get typical french shrug. Find bookshop and peruse camping book till find site then off to get map to find out exactly where I was. Find it eventually and settle down for evening

Thurs 25

Damp and grey start. Chat to bloke at campsite who is there for a few days while he gets clutch repaired. It burnt out on way to Greece. As he said " you can't tell your satnav you're towing a caravan.
Really difficult getting to centre of Rouen on a bike, extremely busy roads. Eventually make it in but seem to attract a few stares. whether this is due to odd bike or me or simply the fact I'd made it alive to the centre on a bike.
Manage to find my way out again and travel very scenic road to Roches d'Orival. Popular with the Lycra clad cyclists. On to Bec Hellouin which is very attractive but not a lot there apart from empty restaurants and an abbey that supplied two archbishops of canterbury courtesy of Willy the Conqueror. Nights are getting chilly now

Fri 26
Nice rural ride to Toutainville and on to Port Audemer to camp. First person I bump into is from Coalville. A few moments later he offers me a job resurfacing roads!

Sat 27

Very cold morning and condensation in tent is dreadful. Head of to Honfleur then Villers sur mer where meet young Norwegian cycle tourer. he was spending 10 months touring around. Found we were heading in same direction to Cabourg off we went. Both camped at Cabourg; nice to have a bit of company for a while.

Sun 28

Off to Caen for breakfast, quick look round cathedral then off to tourist office to ask about Peace museum several people have recommended. The point to a road and say follow signs. By the time I find it I am some way out of Caen so no breakfast. Museum very stylish but too much reading and not much exciting to look at. thought may as well carry on to Bayeaux to Camp. Meet two women, Patricia and Ionie ( forgive me if spelt names wrong ladies) in a camper van and start chatting. As pitching they invite me over for a drink. Get on very well and they invite me to stay for dinner.
Spend pleasant evening chatting, eating and drinking and turn at 11; late for me on this trip.

Mon 29
Pleasant day in Bayeaux looking at Tapestry exhibition and Battle of Normandy Museum. As cooking dinner my back went; just what i'd been dreading. Changed bike seating position to take strain off back. Borrowed campsite book of Patricia and Ionie who then suggested I keep it as they were on their way back.

Tue 30
Fitful night with bad back, took ages getting dressed and out of tent. Need to move on as campsite closing. Persistent rain and wind as head off to look at coastal gun batteries. Nearest open campsite was Carentan and headwind very strong, at one stage was having to pedal down hill, so took it easy and eventualy arrived 6:30; A wet, windy, uncomfortable day I must remember to forget.

Weds 1st Oct
Very strong winds rattle tent around during night, quite disconcerting. Luckier than german lad who had his tent pegs ripped out in middle of night. he managed to rescue tent before it blew away though. Decide to have rest day and stroll round Carentan.
Meet couple of canadian cycle tourists. they have sold their house and business and are now touring round: they spent last 3 months touring British Isles.

Thurs 2
Chilly night. Set of SW. Wind picks up and hail forces rapid retreat to cover. Weather changing rapidly with periods of wind, hail, rain and sun; another nasty ride. Meet canadian couple again; Jim and Marsha, find we're headed to same campsite. With it being the end of the season routes are basically determined by whatever campsites are still open. Camp at Donville les Bains and take stroll into nearby Granville. An old twisty hill place where I got lost and had to ask for directions.

Fri 3
Horrific winds and rain threaten tent so pack everything away just in case tent rips or pegs pull out; Apparently going to be like it all day so not sure quite what to do yet