Day 32. 72km (84901kms 8yrs)
Well-rested and well-fed courtesy of the generous hospitality of Chantal & Jean-Louis, I set out into another 0C, but dry day. Following the eurovelo route along the coast I passed fields of sheep in the wide flood plain as the wind blew me west to Mont Saint Michel. On an otherwise utterly flat plain the abbey on a rock came into view from several kilometres out.
Unlike cars, bikes are allowed right up to the entrance. The two kilometre approach is magnificent, if windy! I thought I would just entertain myself in the old alleyways and streets enjoying the views from outside the abbey, but on noticing jobseekers were permitted free entry I decided to try my luck. I really thought I’d be wasting my time as I waited in line, but to my very happy surprise a photo of a letter from the UK government outlining the years I qualify to pay voluntary National Insurance was accepted as proof of unemployment! I was in for free! In my eagerness I forgot to pick up an English language pamphlet guide so simply marvelled instead at immense room after immense room.
By 14:30 I decided it was time to set about the final 45kms to Saint Malo. I remain very fortunate with the wind behind me but am still stunned how cold it is. The eurovelo route here follows a type of levy through the fields and then alongside the wide beaches where go-carts sail about in the wind.
I arrived into Saint Malo at 7pm to a house so grand I thought I was in the wrong place. But no! I was welcomed very warmly by the young cycling family of Émilie & Pierre and their four kids who are preparing for their own biketour. I’m in absolute awe!
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5 Comments
A place of sanctuary,
Shame you have to secure your bike like fort knox .
Lovely place ❤
The sound on your vlogs is never great, when the adverts come on they are blasting out, whilst I strain to hear what you are saying.
Gosh that fire looked inviting at the end .
Think we all want the weather to warm up 🥶
Excellent episode. However, you will now have to do two hours job-seeking in every library you see.
My memories of Mont St Michael are not as good as yours. I visited just after Covid restrictions were partially lifted. The island was packed with visitors and bicycles were crammed into that small parking space. After a wait I managed to lock up my bike to something secure only to return later to find someone had thoughtlessly locked their bike to mine! I hung around for an hour and decided to catch a bite and rack my brain for some choice French expletives that I could use when I confronted the idiot. Fortunately for him/her, and me possibly, their bike was gone when I returned.