Alencon – Bagnoles-de-L Orne 32 Miles

While trying to find the restaurant last night we saw an event at the corn market. There were a number of old American army vehicles with people dressed in military outfits such as American soldiers, French Foreign legionaires, and old soldiers. They were celebrating 75 years since the liberation of the town. During the night we also heard fireworks. The British were not mentioned so we ignored them.

We woke this morning to a bright blue sky and so we hoped for a sunny day. As we set out the traffic free route promised in the guide book has not materialised, however the roads are small and quiet. After 10 miles where apart from sleepy villages and farms we found a Tabac for a coffee and tea for my compatriot who has decided she does not like coffee any more.

The terrain is hilly and at the halfway point of todays journey we reach the town of Carrouges. Our guide book has indicated that there is a 16th century chateaux / castle of note that would be worth a visit. We make a slight detour down a steep hill where we have our picnic of fruit. The French arrived with their picnics, complete with table cloths and crockery, while we eat our peaches from out of brown paper bags. We certainly showed them how the British picnic.

We then head out back onto the route and at a village stop at the patisserie, which had bikes and a tandam outside. Our hope was that we would get a coffee. They did cold drinks but we were not deterred and opted for cakes. The cyclists on the tandem, who were in the shop, were English. We struck up a conversation, regarding various cycle routes and the new technology that is available for following them. As they were heading off on a different schedule we were relieved not to have to compete with them on the journey.

From our stop at the patisserie our route took us up and down some, quite steep, hills that went through deep forests and passed interesting houses. My Compatriot had jinxed the day by, at the sight of a cloudless sky in the morning, had worn a sun top in the hope that she could even up her suntan (No wonder both her panniers now have broken zips). While the sky had been clear this morning, as we set off from Alencon, the clouds crowded in as we got into the afternoon. We both therefore added layers to protect us from the elements and continued up and down, the hilly terrain, into Bagnoles-de-Le-Orne. On arrival at the hotel we found a note on the door saying reception closed until 15:30. As we had unloaded the bikes in anticiption we opted to sit in a bar opposite drinking cider. It was interesting to watch the antics of people trying to get into the closed hotel particularly as 15:30 came and went. We also observed our English tandem riders arrive and go into the tourist information.

While we are showering and changing it starts to rain, now that is timing. We take a walk around this interesting spa town before seccuming to another shower of rain so head for the nearest bar and settling down with some more Normandy Cider.

The cider was from mine hosts family cider producing business.

During a very nice meal in the evening my compatriot got bored and decided to look at last years blog. She commented that I have not given each day a title. Now I am equally bored so I will edit each page with a title.

Did I mention that I am still not well. I was getting better but the last few cold wet days have not helped. I think it is double pneumonia now.

Tomorrows weather is not looking good with 80% chance of rain. So fingers crossed or I might have triple pneumonia.