A day trip to France

In 2022 having not been out of England for two years due to Covid I had vouchers from Brittany Ferries for a cancelled trip in 2020 which needed to be used. So a day trip was planned with a friend who lives near Portsmouth which saw me travel by train to London, cycle across London and then by train to Portsmouth where we met up to go overnight on the ferry to Ouistreham. Both using our Brompton bikes.

Its not the most relaxing night because you don't board until 10.30pm and you are woken around 4.45am UK time (5.45 French time) as it arrives at 6.45am French time.

Having used this ferry last before Brexit when you simply drove off the boat through customs without stopping, this time everyone was stopped, passport checked and stamped so it took nearly an hour to get out of the port.

Once away we cycled alongside the canal down to Pegasus Bridge where the first Allied troops landed by glider on D Day. Sadly neither local cafe was open this early so we carried on following our pre planned (45 mile) route almost to Caen along the canal before turning right and going across country back to the coast. It wasn't long before we found an open cafe in a village where we stopped for coffee then a pastry from the nearby boulangerie.

Our route took us along quiet roads and cycle paths through typical Normandy villages as the temperature climbed to over thirty degrees. Called at a 'radar museum' to see a German 'Wurzburg' array and then after being on an exposed road for a while we dropped down into a wooded valley with a stream running alongside which was lovely!

A stop for lunch and eventually we reached the coast near the new British memorial to D Day. the next bit was on a busier road so we attempted to ride next to the beach but this quickly deteriorated into a sandy track which meant a lengthy push! Back on the road we decided to stop in Courseulles-sur-Mer for a beer and sit in the shade but after that the route was along an old railway line almost back to Ouistreham where we had a meal before boarding the ferry for a second overnight crossing back. Then retrace the train and cycle across London to get back home.