Greetings form Dourdan

We all slept well on the ferry and were up early to enjoy a very full if rather expensive breakfast courtesy of Brittany Ferries before disembarking.

We cycled out of the hold into a bright, clear French morning and remembering (Just) to cycle on the right hand side of the road, we made our way inland from Caen along a canal tow path. Within 10 minutes we were confronted by a Centaur tank, guarding the approaches to Pegasus Bridge between Caen and Ouistreham, scene of the famous 6th Airborne Division assault on June 6th 1944.

After crossing the bridge we disappeared onto very quiet country lanes. Getting interestingly lost, we cycled up the same steep hill three times from three different directions before realising that Graham’s innate ability to navigate became somewhat impaired when in ‘some foreign field’

After 30 miles we found the pretty town of Lisieux in the Department of Calavdos and from then on stuck to slightly bigger roads stopping at Orbec after 45 miles for our first proper croissant and café au lait.

We had a very fine lunch of omelette and pasta at Verneuil-sur-Avre after 80 miles and made it into Dourdan by about 19:00 having cycled 140 miles.

I’m finding it a real joy to cycle in France for many reasons but the two that stick in my mind from today's experience are:

• The roads, smooth flat and for the most part new, even the smallest country lanes. Those of you who have to cycle on the UK's pot hole strewn strips of rough tarmac will understand what a pleasure this is.

• The courtesy of French drivers who give cyclists all the time and space they need unlike their British counterparts.

Anyway, Dourdan is a great place overlooked by an ancient castle. A Medieval festival was coming to an end when we arrived and we were met by knights in shining armour and women in tunics and veils of the period. This might have explained why we had trouble getting rooms in the town, the restaurants were pretty busy too. We discovered a café that wasn’t particularly packed although it seemed a little too ‘Veggie’ for our taste. We were given a table under the stairs and got stuck into plate fulls of falafel or something equally ghastly and reflected on an excellent first day… Tomorrow off to Les Riceys

Stats for today are:

Total ride so far 212 miles
Total ride today 140 miles
Average speed 15 MPH