On departure at @7:45, the owner and language school teacher presented me with a copy of her book, Easy French. I don’t think that this was a reflection on my French, as we generally spoke English, just an incentive to learn more from someone passionate about the language. While space on the bike is incredibly limited, I could not refuse and bound it round my front handlebar baggage.

After passing through the upmarket seaside towns of Deauville and Trouville, the first stop of the day was Honfleur after 16 miles for some breakfast.

It was nearly 25 years ago when Cissy and I first visited Honfleur to witness the solar eclipse on our first overseas tandem trip in August 1999 (where has the time gone….). While it probably hasn’t changed, I didn’t remember much.

The next challenge was to get over Le Pont de Normandie, a 2km cable stayed bridge crossing the River Seine to Le Havre.

Google maps and Eurovelo didn’t show a cycle route but, a bit of research had found a ‘narrow’ lane. Unfortunately, there were no signs and I had to follow my trusty nose through an Outlet Centre to where bikes could join the Autoroute. The next problem was that the south-north crossing was closed due to roadworks, so I had to use the north-south lane against the traffic flow. This was effectively a 1 metre wide path, separated from the traffic by a small kerb. Anyway, all was good and it had probably saved me 25 miles crossing further upstream.

After the crossing I continued through Le Havre Port which then led me into the city centre. And that is where I noted a banner advertising the arrival of the Olympic Flame later in the day….

I then headed along the coast, initially uphill, before a well-signed network of roads and cycleways passed through villages and between fields of crops on the way to Eterat. It was along here that my bike computer had decided to re-set itself, which at least justified bringing my smart watch as backup for distances.

Approaching Eterat there were a few roads closed and officious gendarmerie enforcing it. Finally making it into town it transpired that there was an Olympic torch proceesion. I didn’t see The Flame in 2012, as I wasn’t really interested, but given that it was just half an hour away, the sun was shining and someone had given me a free bag, then I thought that I’d stay. I also thought that I had managed find out that it was starting on the cliffs over the Faise d’Aval @4:30pm descending @2km to the seafront – what a spectacular backdrop that would provide.

Then suddenly, loads of phones (cameras) suddenly went up in front of me and then people quicky started dispersing. It transpired that there was a small group just jogging along the seafront. What a huge anti climax ! And I still hadn’t seen The Flame.

So, after this unexpected and unproductive stop, I had to ‘put the hammer down’ (as best as I could) and got to Woody Park by 5:50, in advance of check-in closing at 6:00pm. I had booked ‘une tente suspendu’. On arrival, l was promptly given a harness, shown how to put it on and how to get into a demonstration tent safely using carribinas. I then had to wander round the park and select my own tent. While it looked interesting and different it was probably at the lower end of my low expectations for glamping and very pleased that I had not persuaded Cissy to join me.

After a good shower (and the daily washing which had allowed me to make use of my string washing line) I had to buy a beer while my electronic devices were filled with juice. I then had my normal mile walk out for food (when my watch usually tells that I’ve done 10,000 steps….) or in today’s case @ 70 miles.