Garry McGivern is cycle touring in France on Sunday, 15th-October-2017. Le Havre to Dieppe. 102 miles.
It was a good crossing last night very smooth and for the first time ever I had an outside cabin with a window! Not that it really made any difference but it’s better than no window I suppose!
In the end, I decided not to go to Paris. However, that decision was only made as I was leaving the ferry!
I decided that I really don’t have the time at the moment and it’s probably best if I go home Boring as that may be!
Also, I’ve not cycled from Le Havre to Dieppe for years. It’s a really nice route, and I really enjoyed it. It just gets a bit annoying that every single town or village is in a valley which is fine when going into town flying downhill. But then you’ve got to go back up to get out! But I suppose the hills and valleys are what make it so picturesque!
En Route
On my way to Dieppe, I was wondering whether I should camp or not. My ferry was due to leave at 5.30 am which meant I would probably have to be up at about 3 am to pack away. To get to the ferry in time. In the end, I decided it probably was better to camp and get a few hours sleep rather than hang around the ferry terminal. I’d also be able to shower!
I arrived in Dieppe just before it was getting dark and went straight to the campsite that I’d stayed at before only to find it was closed!
There were a couple of cheap hotels nearby, so I thought I’d stop in one of those. But none of them had a restaurant apart from one but then that wasn’t open on a Sunday! And I really needed to get something to eat!
I then decided that I would head down to the quayside, where all the restaurants are, get something to eat and then waste a few hours in the restaurant.
Well, that didn’t work. I found a nice little restaurant, ordered my meal and started to settle in for the evening. Unfortunately, the restaurant had other ideas and decided that they were going to close. Even though people were still trying to come in, they just turned them away!
I then found a cafe/bar and settled down in there with a nice beer, only to find that they, too, were closing!
After that I decided to go for a ride, that also didn’t go according to plan, it started to rain! So I just gave up and went to the ferry terminal where I’ll be now for the next 5 or 6 hours!
Have you been over the Tarconville Bridge?
No, I normally cross on the “Pont de Normandie” which has quite a steep climb!
Hi Spike . Sundays are not a good day to visit France especially if you want to eat after 5.00. I have been caught exactly the same. Anyway a break away in a lovely place. I envy you! I hope your sailing isn’t too choppy as there is a big storm reportedly coming our way. Hopefully it will stay in the Midlands as it comes across from Ireland. Take care and hope to see you soon xx
I too remembered that Sunday was a bad day to eat here, but not until it was too late!