Monday 8th September 2014 - Apparently ducks and their other feathered friends don't actually sleep at night. Heard them bickering with each other at various stages through the night.
Opened the tent to a think mist, but followed my nose to the reception to pick up my bread order. Came back, got the stove on and ate them wrapped up in my sleeping bag, with a cup of instant coffee.
Today I would cross the river Seine. Don't know how and don't know when.
There was a bridge just north from where I was, about 15km away on a D road. Which is kinda like a major road, just below a dual carriageway.
Bit of a steep wee climb before getting onto it, then blasted as hard as I could toward the bridge. As I got closer, it looked bigger. Way bigger than a bridge that would allow bicycles across.
Yep, got to the junction and it became a motorway. No! Looked at map and the next crossing was about a 30km detour. Bummer, sun was starting to get hot.
Nothing for it but go. Next several hours slogging it out through the relentless heat, past fields and fields with only the odd house. Then came the hills again, thankfully under the shade of trees now, as I followed along the river. Some amazing big beautiful houses too along the banks.
Got to Pont de Brotonne and again from a distance looked a bit mental. Like an upsidedown U - steep up and steep down.
Stopped and asked a French woman on a bike if bicycles were allowed to cross and she babbled away to me, but essentially the answer was yes.
Right, gotta go for it. Coming up to the bridge was a cycle lane. Good sign. It then actually continued the whole way over the bridge. One lane for cars and lorries and one for tractors and bikes. Awesome. Don't have to detour to Paris to cross after all.
Rest of day was long and slow and hot. Keep reminding myself I'm not in a race, I can go slow if I want to.
But I wanted to get back to the coast. Aiming for Yvetot then on to Veules-les-Roses.
In Yvetot, I stopped at a supermarket for food, as hadn't eaten or drunk enough water all day again. Got some chocolate biscuits, water and a bottle of yogurt drink.
Once I'd downed the yogurt drink and had half the packet of biscuits, I was off again. Chasing the sun.
Worked out if I put the foot down I could make V-l-Roses about 8.30pm, just before dark. I had lights with me, wee dopey ones, but didn't plan on cycling at night anyway. Pressure was on.
A few km later, my tummy started gurgling. Then I got a wave of chills. Then goosebumps.
Oh shit!
Not sure if it was the dodgy water from campsite, over exertion, heat exhaustion, too much sun or that yogurt drink, but a crisis was emerging.
Flat open countryside. Farmers ploughing fields. Clump of trees in the distance. Pedal pedal pedal. Gurgle, shiver.
I made the trees, scrambled up the bank through the brambles, not worrying about the cuts to my legs and arms, to relief.
I love wet wipes.
So, sun was going down fast, another 10km to go. Eventually I had to use my head torch on front bag and turned rear red light on just outside the town.
Into Veules-les-Roses in the dark at 9pm. More one way streets. Then steep climb to campsite. I actually had to get off and push this time.
Campsite closed for night. Hmmm
Other side of the road was a car park on the cliff, presumably for viewing the view. I didn't view it.
What to do. Well there's no one in the car park. Looked at map and there was a coastal walking path along the cliff. So followed it a good distance from the car park and put up my tent. Sleeping bag out and went to bed.
It was awesome. I could see the lights from the town below and the red flashing lights of the 6 wind turbines above on the other side. I could hear the owls and the booming of the waves below, I eventually got some kip as a thick sea mist began to creep in over me.
Free camping at its best.
Day 10 - 08.09.14
Pont-Audemer to Veules-les-Roses
12pm to 9pm
6hrs 34min cycling
103.8km
3091calories
1327 metres asc
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