Day 247. 74km (83364kms 7yrs)
With a two year old the family were up and having breakfast before I emerged from under the Union Jack doonah. I partook of their delicious homemade granola, with homemade yoghurt and homemade wild rose jam, all the while conscious this was my last French breakfast.
The rain had cleared by the time I set off into Rouen; I was eager to see more of this gorgeous city before leaving for the coast. They’ve really tried with the bike lanes but they’re a mess. They criss-cross back-and-forth over the road and by missing one turn I infuriated a bus driver whose consequent honking immediately behind me only served to fluster me more. Otherwise Rouen is delightful; I adore the brightly painted colombage buildings, very possibly because they remind me of my home town. Elsewhere I was out of luck; the abbey is only open weekends, and the 20th century church marking the spot where Joan of arc was burned at the stake was closed for lunch. But I did manage to visit the free Musée des Beaux-Arts where I spied some Monets, Modiglianis, besides many other impressionists.
The road from Rouen to Dieppe is mostly dull. Not finding a bakery I stopped midway for supermarket lunch, the huge pain au chocolate the highlight of the ride so far. But just before Dieppe a traffic free descent past a handful of thatched houses cheered me up; it felt so English! Arriving at the coast, the pebble beach complete with pastel-painted beach huts had me forgetting what country I was actually in. The sun setting behind white cliffs intensified the feelings of nostalgia for my trip across France.
Down at the port I looked for a cosy place to pass the evening; my boat wasn’t until 5 five the following morning and I wasn’t in a hurry to bed down in the ferry terminal. Mussels seemed to be the thing around this area, with a choice of sauces. I ordered the Gorgonzola ones and received a dish so massive it must’ve been intended for sharing. I love mussels, & truly I gave it my best shot, but had to admit defeat with a dozen or so remaining in the bottom of the pot.
Cycling around to the ferry terminal I found an open waiting room complete with armless couches so I got comfy for a few hours of sleep before the pre-dawn ferry to Newhaven
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6 Comments
Bon voyage Helen. 😊 Very much enjoyed this video seeing the architecture, churches and scenery. This is something that my husband and I would enjoy seeing for ourselves. Safe travels to England. 😊🚇
Whoever designed the cycle lanes in Rouen was not a cyclist, or, maybe he was a shareholder in an ambulance service! Dieppe is a lovely ferry port town and cannot be compared with shabby Newhaven. Welcome back to the UK.
😊
Going to miss your films when you get home
Your so inspiring just so love this incredible adventure and your energy and esprit de vie! We will miss you!
Wishing you all the best ,I only started watching when you were in corsica,but love the architecture, and galleries, you have shown, plus the daily cheese and French stick. Must visit rouen.have a lovelyvtimecwith your family.and will check out your back vids,during the winter.😊