I woke up on my alarm after the best sleep since I left home, what seems like about 2 weeks ago. I put this down to an idea from the Rhine trip, to bring an inflatable pillow to put under what are usually thin and flimsy pillows. If it’s good enough for Team Sky / Ineos…..

After a much needed breakfast, I set off @8:15am, but couldn’t leave without recording the view from the YH with Mont St Michel in the far distance and my first stop.

After a quick pedal round Cancale with it’s magnificent church, I carried on to La Coudre when the panorama revealed a pan flat route round to MSM.

It was a grey morning with light drizzle, but not quite heavy enough for a waterproof. Mixing the road with tracks I stumbled across a group of Cancale cyclists (presumably the retired weekday group also on their way to MSM. This was the first of three ‘peletons’ I would see today, really living the Richard Asquith, Race Against Time mantra.

After the senior cyclists stopped at a seemingly pre-arranged toilet stop, I pushed onto MSM and got caught by a lightweight tourist, before being caught by his wife, carrying all the kit on an electric bike (aka Sherpa).

After they stopped, I continued to MSM for the photographic evidence (I have visited before so didn’t stop off). I was surprised to see a few large groups of, presumably, schoolchildren walking around in the estuary. I can’t imagine that being allowed in the UK – just think of the risk assessments, parental sign off etc needed.

With a slight tailwind I managed 39 miles before lunch, which was bread and sardines in Pontaubault. In a popular picnic area, I got talking to Frenchman who, it transpired, had walked from Menton in the SE corner of France in just over 2 months. Strikingly he said it felt like 6 months, a feeling I can alude to (and maybe a way to slow down the Race Against Time….(see Introduction if anyone’s confused)). He was now heading up to Cherbourg following my afternoon cycle route….

After Pontaubault, the EV4 continued on a disused railway for, wait for it, 40 miles until I turned off for my accommodation in Vire. Now, in many ways it was boring (and I really felt for the French walker), but, 1) it was flat; 2) the trees sheltered me from a few showers; and 3) it was interesting passing a few converted / abandoned stations. Other highlights included three dark brown birds of prey, two fallen trees, a red squirrel scampering across the path, some art and a young lad on a mountain bike who, after 76 miles, tuned into my slightly competitive nature and tried to go sprinting past me.

I rolled up at my hotel @6:30pm after another 85 mile cycle. After last night’s bread and cheese, I need something more fulfilling. Only noticing the name of the restaurant after I had been tempted by the salmon pasta, it got me thinking, but who would name a place after the crimes it commits ?