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#1 | Tour Normandy and Pays de Loire. datum

Wed Jun 05, 2024 6:04 pm

Managed a short trip to France at the end of April beginning of May. Reminded to post this by the D-Day Commemorations kicking off today.

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Day 1 - I took the overnight ferry to St Malo arriving 8.30am to get straight on the roads, which entailed a leisurely ride down to the Loire Valley which I arrived at just west of Angers then up the Loire Valley to overnight stop in Saumur, staying at the Hotel De Londres. The weather was sunny but reasonably chilly, until getting to the Loire which was quite a bit warmer.

Day 2 - A ride up the Loire taking in a few chateaux and scenic roads. Though weather was on and off rain all day. Despite the intermittent rain it was a good day on the bike. Some good roads, very scenic, lunch stop in Blois, then I headed north to overnight stop in Alencon at the Hotel des Ducs, which is a popular biker stop. The owner was expecting 50 motorcycles 2 weeks later for the Moto GP at Le Mans.

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Day 3 - The plan for the day was a tour of the Suisse Normandie region, returning to Alencon for a second night. Headed to Le Mans to ride round the public roads of the 24h and then to the Le Mans 24h museum. Lots of great cars inc. Alonso�s winning Toyota from a few years ago. Ticket also included access trackside, which mostly would be looking at an empty track I expect, but lucky enough to see a fair few bikes blasting around, some kind of practice.

On leaving Le Mans, the rain came in heavy and it got really cold. It eventually dropped to 9c, heated grips required on 1st May in France! Persisted with the bulk of the ride, but did cut it short. Hammering it down when I got back. Also, everything was shut as it was may day, hard to find somewhere to stop for refreshments.

I don't really follow bike racing so any bike racing experts able to ID this bike?

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Day 4 - Plan was to head up to overnight in Luc Sur Mer, before catching the ferry back from Ouistreham. But started the day with a trip to A&E, previous day I had poked myself in the eye rather badly, careless I know. Most of the white of my eye was red and quite painful, best to be safe. I was in and out in less than 90 minutes having seen a specialist who was able to examine my eye properly. Excellent service all round, There was another patient there who helped with translation. Used my GHIC card and had to pay about eu30, and then got a bill just the other day to my home address for another eu50, not sure why. Must be another one of those Brexit benefits we hear so much about! After getting the OK, to the pharmacy to get the meds they had prescribed. When in there the same chap who helped me in the hospital was walking home and saw my UK registered bike parked up outside and popped in to check all was OK and if I needed any further help. What a top bloke.

After those shenanigans, headed to Bayeux to go the British Military Cemetery, then along the Normandy coast stopping at Pointe du Hoc and the new British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, which was very impressive. Was going to go to Utah Beach as well, but due to the morning delay cut that out.

Stayed at a hotel overlooking the beach in Luc Sur Mer called the Hotel Beau Rivage (right by Sword Beach).

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Picture is the memorial to the liberation of Luc Sur Mer by Royal Marines on 7th June:
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Day 5 was just a 15 minute hop to Ouistreham for the ferry back, arrived in Portsmouth and then it absolutely lashed it down for the trip home :)

these members like the post: Wicky, Bonzo and Ray

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#2 | RE: Tour Normandy and Pays de Loire. datum

Thu Jun 06, 2024 12:29 pm (Last edited: Thu Jun 06, 2024 5:53 pm)

Just adding a few more pics given the day today and having just watched the British commemoration at Ver Sur Mer:

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Posting this as I was impressed there was a school trip for European History students from Iowa.
Private B.J. Stone, 19 years old, died 80 years ago today... :(
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these members like the post: Wicky, Ali-bear and Bonzo

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Tour of the Ardennes � � Up in the clouds