Index | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | References
Day 6 - Back to Cherbourg
09:35 and north over the Loire, travelling up the north bank in glorious sunshine. The architectural splendour of Saumur was noted as we travelled downstream by the side of the best known of French rivers which waters the grapes of, for me at least, the premier wine region of the country. This trip was a considerable improvement to the one undertaken the previous September when I had Susie, my wife, on the pillion; was very low on fuel; and in the worst weather I had experienced in France (up until the downpour at Poitiers this year). We refueled at Maze and then started our final leg.
On the way to Château Gontier there were a few interesting bits of road but not a lot after that. We stopped for lunch at 12:35 in St James where I, much to Daryl's disgust, ate a whole plateful of whelks - he only told me he wasn't keen on seafood after we had started our trip.
At 14:10 we were on our way again along the same route we had passed six days before - this time a bit warmer.
At Cherbourg we arrived at the Hotel Mecure at 16:24 which is right by the ferry terminal. Modern small rooms and expensive but since we had to check in at 07:00 the following day it was also very convenient [N49.64550 W1.61799].
Daryl and I ventured into Cherbourg that evening. I was determined to have my ration of seafood and Daryl was brave enough to join me and confessed to enjoying the crab, langoustine and bass. Whilst in the restaurant we met an interesting couple, Simon and Lisa, who were about to embark on a round the world journey on a couple of BMWs http://www.2ridetheworld.com/ . I'd like to say to we recognised fellow bikers by their manner but it was the helmets they were carrying that were the giveaway. Certainly their planned vacation was considerably more adventurous than our short forays into Europe - we wish them luck.
The ferry trip was uneventful, the trip from Poole back home was the pits - wall to wall traffic. Dorchester on a sunny Saturday afternoon :-(
It was an interesting and rewarding experience, sharing a trip with a fellow biker whom one had never met before. I enjoyed it and Daryl's company and Daryl said he did - maybe he was just being polite. Perhaps we will embark on another journey if I am allowed out to play on my own again but for the moment I am busy planning my next trip - back to the Picos mountains of Spain next year with Susie and maybe some other members of the Wales and Southwest ST group.
Distance ridden 224 miles.
Index | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | References