Rain, rain, rain.
It started last night, and the skies were still dripping when I woke up. I waited a little while inside the tent, but to no avail. With a loud sigh, I crawled out, packed up my soggy gear, and pedaled straight into the downpour.
I had hoped to swim in the English Channel today, but those hopes were washed away by the relentless rain—and the moderate temperatures didn’t help either. I spent a couple of hours riding along the beaches of Normandy, but couldn’t enjoy them. What a pity.
Just as I was about to turn inland toward Caen, the sun made a brief appearance—only for a few minutes, but still, a small gift. I stopped in Caen for coffee and a bit of sightseeing, making the most of the fleeting light.
After that, my route overlapped with the Vélo Francette for about 30 kilometers—and that’s what I call a véloroute: smooth pavement, plenty of picnic tables, and excellent signage. Originally, I planned to stop about 15 km past Caen. Then I decided to go a bit further. Then further still. I eventually landed in Condé-sur-Noireau, a solid 50 km from Caen.
Why push so far? Because I want to reach Mont-Saint-Michel tomorrow. By stretching today’s distance, I shorten tomorrow’s. I’m getting tired of this miserable weather, and I’d rather cut the trip short by time, not distance. If I ride a little extra each day, I’ll reach Paris—and home—sooner. With luck, to better weather.
It’s unfortunate, really. I had planned shorter rides so I could enjoy the journey, explore more, and embrace slow travel. So much for that. As I write this, yet another dark cloud is rolling in, promising more rain. I just hope that tomorrow morning stays dry—at least long enough for me to pack.
Today in numbers:
109 km — distance cycled
3 out of 5 — days cycling in the rain
95% — of Condé-sur-Noireau was destroyed by Allied bombing in WWII
1432 — University of Caen founded under Henry VI of England
