Forges les Eaux: A day on a Voie Vert

September 21, 2016

Ken writes

We ate at a restaunt beside the harbour. Tricia had moules and I had pizza - the first for a long time. I had a reaction to one in Remagen! No ill effects this time

It is still dark at 7.00 now but we got up and had a pretty good French pdj then off. We had only gone 100m when I discovered the room key in my pocket. So back I went, the excellent lady in the hotel was pleased. We discussed the way to the Vois Vert. She thought the one I had from the Office de Tourisme both busy and dangerous and gave us another starting almost directly outside the hotel. Hers proved to be great. The traffic was not too bad and the route straight. It was 8km till we hit the Vois Vert, mostly a rail trail. Unfortunately there was a heavy fog lasting until 11.00 am. My glasses fogged up and I could hardly see where I was going and nothing of the surrounding countryside

The other feature of the day was that the track rose steadily all day - just 1 to 2 percent but enough to slow us down with no respite. By 2.00pm Tricia was feeling the strain quite badly.

Once we could see there was lovely green countryside with cattle, crops, gardens and some other cyclists. This is part of the Lodon- Paris cycle route. We met several English people making their way north to catch the ferry at Dieppe

We had a good table for lunch of blue cheese and nectarines. Finally we got to the small town of Forge les Eaux and to the information and the hotel which is great. We have been plotting the onward route, we are off cycle ways and following road maps from here to Ypres.

I love moules this was my last chance to have them before we left the coast, the cidre was good too

Along the Voie Vert some of the old stations have been turned into Cafes this one still had the points levers

Ken would really like a pair of blue pants like a French farmer

Today's ride: 61 km (38 miles)
Total: 2,485 km (1,543 miles)

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