Day 13 1/8/16
67 miles (Pont D’Ouilly to Ambrieres Les Vallees ) Average speed 9.5mph Top Speed 79.7mph
Another great day. 67m Longest yet.
Started off with 2 boiled eggs and pate with baguette.
Big climb up to la Roche D’Oetre. Worth it for the fantastic views.
Pont D’Ouilly to Ambrieres Les Vallees view from the cycle route
Pont D’Ouilly to Ambrieres Les Vallees view from the cycle route
Pont D’Ouilly to Ambrieres Les Vallees view from the cycle route
Pont D’Ouilly to Ambrieres Les Vallees view from the cycle route
Following velo francette cycle route. Once off road the pathways are brilliant, mainly following rivers . After a few hours I found the cycle paths through the trees a breeze. Sometimes I was moving too fast to appreciate the surroundings and after a while under trees it’s nice to come out for a break, which I did at a few bridges. Tried the gorge at La Varenne river, but it is closed on Monday. Cycled behind a French couple. Then the path had some pretty detours away from usual route.
There were so many trees it was hard to find any shops but I did eventually get some bread at Domfront from an old man who seemed to be the only place open on a Monday. In France Monday is the new Sunday! Four hours straight without a stop for lunch as nothing is open on a Monday!
Found a campsite at Fraimbault but no food available anywhere (it must be Monday!), only an Irish bar full of expats. One offered me to camp in his garden and shower in his house but no food was mentioned. It would have been a heavy night of drinking on an empty stomach so I declined his offer and continued on to Ambrieres Les Vallees. There I found a Carrefour open and had sausage and onion baguettes for dinner.(I even splashed out on a bottle of Heinz ketchup!)
Campsite €12 and very tidy with loo seats and paper!
I’ve seen lots of wildlife. Today included several birds of prey, falcons, I think, and a mouse that ran across my path, I only just swerved to avoid him.
Falcon, I think, you may have to zoom in to see it
Also there are a lot of touring cyclists all over the place. Some in the weirdest of contraptions. I met a lovely couple of friends, Francoise and Miram, from Toulouse, who were on a 5 week break. Shared stories with them. And now it’s time for bed.