September 15 2018, Honfleur to Le Treport

To days ride was 136.5 kms and 855 m of climb.  This made it a fairly challenging day.  Fortunately we did have a bit of a tail wind, while not a major factor was not a bad thing either.

The first order of business was the big bridge over the Siene River.  I had worked on this and could see the bike lane on the bridge so I knew we could ride across however I did not see the no cycling sign on the bridge on ramp.  Fortunately Juerg found the correct cycling ramp and we were across the bridge. 

We then had to climb the escarpment out of the Seine River Valley.  To do this we took a bunch of side roads on our way north.  Things worked very well through a bunch of freeways and I was quite pleased that the route worked so well. At one point a peloton of young riders went past us going almost double my pace.  Juerg jumped on the back of their tail and rode it for quite a distance.  Ken and I thought we would never see Juerg again but we did catch up about 30 kms later.  The climb was about 10 kms long but was only about 4.0%.  It got your attention but was not a killer.

We were at the 75 kms mark when we decide to stop for a sandwich.  We pulled into a little tobacco shop to ask where we could get a sandwich and the lady said she would make us one.  Sure why not and it turned out to be a great big sandwich on a huge chunk of baguette.

I had hoped to get into the Dieppe Museum however by the time we got to Dieppe it was too late to tour the museum so we settled for a visit to the Canada Square which is a memorial to the sacrifice that the Canadian soldiers made to lord Montbatton’s ego.  

I had originally hoped to stay in Dieppe so that we would have a 100 kms day and 110 kms day rather than a 130 kms day followed by a 80 kms day.  However there were no rooms in Dieppe and now I know why as there was huge festival going on and the place was a total mad house.  Maneuvering the bike through the crowd was a challenge.  After we got through the town the route took us down a a couple of side streets.  However every time we went down one we were off course.  It turned out the course went down a back alley and up a few stairs to get on the climb up to the top of the escarpment.

After Dieppe there was only 30 kms and it went by pretty quickly.  I found a shop which sold fresh fruit and vegetables.  The display was so beautiful I had to stop.  I bought a huge melon and some pears.  The melon filled the bike trunk and made the bike tail heavy.

The Airbnb is an absolute beauty. It has a fabulous balcony overlooking the historic town of Le Treport.  The melon and pears were so sweet and delicious; it made hauling them the 12 kms in on my bike well worth it.  Sitting in the sun and enjoying the day was a total treat.

Over all a long and challenging day but so much fun.   

Terry hot biker