Normandy is beautiful. Its a place where I would like to spend more time, and if Brexit had not have happened, I would even considered living here. Its beautiful. Anyway… I spent a few days on a campsite near Omaha beach and spent my days riding around the Cherbourg peninsula.
The west coast of the peninsula is also especially beautiful, with gorgeous beaches and beautiful scenery and villages. All the villages and towns see are so well kept. The roads here are also excellent. Better than Scotland, and the most surprising thing for me is that the roads are relatively uncluttered by traffic, queues and mad-motorists. The country roads see very few vehicles, though Caen was busy but to be honest, I did hit it at rush hour.
After a few days near Omaha beach I headed towards Bayeux, spending a leisurely day exploring the lanes leading down to the coastline and the back-roads further inland. Because I didn’t bother to read their website properly and also not booking in advance, but the time I got to the campsite where I was going to meet a mate, I got there too late as the reception closed at 6pm. So, utilising my ‘Plan B’ I headed to another campsite around 7 miles south of Bayeux.
Sunny, green and peaceful, I really do like the campsite at Moulin Foulon. The following day I met met my friend Daz, who also brought along another bike rider from Hull – Hello Steve – and we spent the next few days riding around the area, visiting all the beaches and several museums. I enjoyed all the museums and all the sights, but the biggest moment for me was visiting the Bayeux Tapestry, which is something I’ve always wanted to see. It was one of those ‘pinch-me’ moments standing before something so old with such a long history that depicts a moment in history that defined and shaped the country I was born.
I would recommend anyone to come to Normandy, especially on two-wheels. And you don’t need to book a campsite. There are lots and lots of campsites, both on the coast and also further inland. Some of the sites on the coast can be a little more expensive but as you go inland they tend to be cheaper. The people in Normandy are also super friendly and everyone seems happy. Unlike the UK…
Shops are great, but you need to remember that many shops close for a while in the afternoon, so get your shopping done in the morning. And the bread… The French must make the best bread in the world as each day I’ve bought bread and enjoyed every crumb.
The weather has also been beautiful, and two days ago it was 34 degrees in the afternoon. Amazing. The next part of my journey means that I am going to head north-east towards the Belgian border. I may stop around the Ardennes or I may push towards Luxembourg – it just depends win when I hit the road, how the journey goes and how much I feel like easing along at a sedate pace or maybe riding a little faster.
With its slow pace of life, leisurely riding, superb scenery and welcoming people, Normandy is beautiful, and it is definitely a place I will be visiting again, and again, and hopefully again…
