Cycling France: Cormeilles to Ouistreham

The final day of my European bicycle tour: cycling in France, Cormeilles to Ouistreham. Then ferry to Portsmouth. I started to cycle home from Portsmouth, but jumped on a train instead. 53 miles. As I was so close to Ouistreham last night, I arrived at the ferry terminal just after midday today. So I decided to jump on the first available ferry, which was the 16.30. I could have camped at Ouistreham tonight. But to be honest, I couldn’t see much point. It’s only delaying the inevitable.

It was a late start today. Breakfast at the hotel wasn’t until eight o’clock. And even if I didn’t bother with breakfast, I wouldn’t have been able to get my bike out until eight, so it was a bit of a no-brainer.

The ride from Cormeilles to Ouistreham was pretty fast, and apart from one uphill, most of it was downhill or flat. The crossing from Ouistreham to Portsmouth was a little late. And even later, by the time we arrived in Portsmouth, then to top it all, they had trouble getting the ramp down. I was a good hour late by the time I eventually got off.

Should Have Just Got The Train From Portsmouth

I decided to cycle home, but then if it was too much of a struggle, I’d jump on the train at Havant. Haha, guess what? Yep, it was a struggle, so I made for Havant, which was on the way anyway, so it wasn’t a big diversion. But then, when I arrived at the station, the lift to get from one side of the track to the other was broken! So, back out of the station, I went and used the footbridge. I got over to the other side only to find the ramp down to the platform was locked, so I then had to go on another detour, causing me to miss my train. Luckily, there was another one twenty minutes later, the last one of the night.

I eventually walked in my door at just gone one o’clock, which would have been two o’clock French time. I did have a bit of luck on the trains. Because it was so late, I didn’t have to pay. Well, it’s certainly not been one of my most successful tours. But that’s not to say it’s not been enjoyable.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow & Support

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. As a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Cycling France: Les Andelys to Cormeilles

European bicycle tour update: France cycling Les Andelys to Cormeilles. 57 miles. What a damp, misty morning it was today. The mist didn’t lift until near midday. Then it was a lovely sunny day. I’ve come away from the Seine and decided to head more directly to Ouistreham for the ferry home. The twists and turns of the Seine had got the better of me.

I’ve felt much better today. I’m not too sure if it was a day off yesterday. Maybe it was because I’ve been following smooth roads, or what I think is the main reason. I’ve been eating steak for the past three nights, boosting my iron levels. But whatever the reason, I’ll take it. Mind you, after saying, I felt a lot better. I’ve still only cycled under sixty miles.

Unfortunately, I’m staying in a hotel tonight. Well, I say, unfortunately, I can’t complain, really. It’s just I should have been camping. I’d passed a couple of signs for campsites a few miles back, but chose to ignore them and push on a bit more. A big mistake a couple of miles down the road, I’d had enough, and there were no signs of campsites apart from the two I’d passed, and I certainly wasn’t going to go back on myself!

No, the mistake was that because it was a Sunday, the hotel’s restaurant was closed. And if I were camping, at least I’d have been able to cook something. In the end, I wandered into town and had a pizza as it was the only place open. I met another English couple there who were also staying at the hotel. The pizzeria was run by an elderly couple, with the man doing the cooking. Talk, Mr Grumpy. He kept shouting at us for talking too loudly. No wonder there were only the three of us in there!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow & Support

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. As a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Cycling France: in Les Andelys

European bicycle tour update: France cycling in Les Andelys. I awoke this morning, all raring to get moving, and started to pack up. But after about ten minutes, it began to rain again. And after looking at the weather forecast for the day, I decided to stay where I was. I’m not in any rush, and cycling in the rain is just miserable.

After a few hours of showers, there looked like a big enough gap for me to venture to the shops. Deciding that it might do me good to walk rather than cycle, I set off. After visiting the boulangerie and a supermarket, I made my way back. Only to be caught in another shower. But nothing too major, and I found some shelter under a bridge to wait it out. It was probably only a one/one and a half-mile round trip. But blimey, did I know it! I thought it was exhausting enough cycling. It’s ten times as bad walking. I really do need to get this anaemia sorted.

I spent much of the day in the campsite bar/cafe, looking at my map and working out my best route. I was also joined by the young lad whose parents ran the place.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow & Support

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. As a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Cycling France: Les Mureaux to Les Andelys

European bicycle tour update: France cycling Les Mureaux to Les Andelys. 51 miles. What a struggle that was today. Right from the start, there was a strong headwind, and I was also feeling pretty tired after not sleeping very well last night. You’d have thought that a night in a comfy bed with clean sheets would have done the trick, it didn’t. I hardly slept a wink.

I initially started to follow the roads, but with such a strong headwind, I soon found my way back to the “velo à Seine” cycle route for some shelter, which worked well, although, as I said yesterday, it takes you all around the houses.

Fifty miles seems to be my max at the moment. The last fifteen miles of the day were a real struggle. Mind you. It wasn’t helped by the fact that it started to rain. At first, it was just showering, and I sheltered until they passed. But gradually, the showers got more frequent until I relented and put my waterproofs on and cycled the remainder of the day in the wet.

Very sad news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. What a great lady. I was genuinely saddened to hear the news last night. And I thought it was quite fitting they turned the lights out on the Eiffel Tower last night in respect.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route
• Videos: Check out my YouTube videos
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow & Support

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. As a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.