This trip is going to be so different from how I imagined it. There is very little time for oneself, as it gets dark so early, and there is so little light in which to cycle. Its already half 12 and we haven't got started on our next leg of the trip yet. I don't know when I'll have time to do a proper entry - hopefully orleans and tours willl offer another cyber cafe. I've seen so much already, yet we've only been gone for 3 days. I would love to get some pictures up, but computer says "no!" (sorry).
The trip out of Dieppe was amazing. Pitch black, except for what dannys light could show us. We cycled round and up this huge cliff on the western side, through the old town. the wind was so fierce, it made us sway from side to side quite dangerously. I know that the road wasn't that close, but it felt like the cliff edge was only inches away as we sped down in the dark, these terrifyingly sharp corners in the dark. If we hadn't had danny's front led light we would have had to stop for sure or risk falling off the edge of the france.
It felt like we made good time and though my map reading skills lacked somewhat, we seemed to be on the right path as the light poured in over the horizon. I thought there would be a difference in traffic, but largely the roads were clear the entire route (yellow d roads rock!). There were lots of ups and downs, which eventually started to make me very weary. I don't think I've ever wanted bed so much as I did then. We finally made it to Yvetot, where we hoped to find infomation about a campsite nearby. Unfortunately it seemed to be a bank holiday and it was shut. We had lunch in a small cafe, and I must say that the croque madame is an absolutely genius invention.
Off again, and we made it into a beautiful little town called Pavilly, just north of of Rouen, where we stopped off to get some bread. Up and over a few more hills and I was starting to curse the contents on my bike and danny as well, who seemed to pull out some much needed power on the last rise. Finally, racing down a hill we arrived at the outskirts of Rouen and tried to find the campsite that offered me bed and so much sleep.
We finally found the campsite, and after setting up the tents I lay down and fell into a deep sleep for an hour while danny went to the shops. It started to rain when he got back and woke me up, so we cooked in the tent (badly) by the light of my wind-up mp3 player.
It rained all night, not to mention was bitingly cold. My sleeping bag is meant to be three-season, but I definately should have got a warmer one. I actually thouoght my tent was leaking because my feet were so cold, my mind confused it with a feeling of wetness. I woke the next day to a horror of horrors, the tent had dyed everything the same colour as it - red! Never fear however, for it was just the light coming through the inner-sheet, but the illusion was quite astounding. The plan had been to leave that morning, but it would not stop raining and even hailing until early afternoon, so we decided to stay that night as well and spent the rest of the day in rouen, which is where I lost Danny.
More soon.
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4 comments:
*Audible Gasp*
The suspense!
It all sounds very cool, although unpleasantly hard work. two men bonding and eating by the light of a humble wind up MP3 player.
I've never had croque Madame, only Croque Monsieur - which is the same thing. Just manlier.
Wow.
Sounds great..
The secret is to use a roll mat, which will stop the cold ground from sucking the heat out of you. Also, cuddle up to Danny! He won't bite.
awesome, man. i thought a croque madame had a fried egg on it?
cycling is far too hard of work for most mere mortals. thanks for working so hard--its like you're doubling up to take care of my ration.
Did I not mention the egg? Indeed there is an egg on there, and in my humble opinion that makes it more manly than a croque monsieur. I had a pizza last night which had egg on top of it as well, and I think this is a good thing that should be applied in more circumstances.
I'm definately taking this croque madam home with me and adding it to my breakfast list.
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