Honfleur to Pont l’Eveque – Calvados Territory

Not every day can be exceptional, and today was no exception. I had a great sleep, over 10 hours with only one pee break, so that was good. Collecting my stuff together and stuffing it in the rucksack takes time, but it was a short walk today, just 13 miles this time so I have time.

I like to chuff about with words. I got exceptional and exception in the first sentence together, stuff and stuffing in the third, together with three times time. Simple things please me.

I spend a long time working out trekking routes and daily distances, largely based around the availability of campsites or reasonably priced hotels. Then I look for the smallest lanes or tracks on Google, to be able to walk in peace and quiet, and print out little maps for each day. I store them in small freezer bags. These are yesterday’s maps, stained by rain, and maps for the next ten days.

Today started with a breakfast at Maccy Dee’s. It was next to the hotel and I love their egg and bacon McMuffins. I had two, and two Capuccinos. I don’t eat lunch very often when I’m walking so I need some fuel first thing.

The road south ran past McD’s and up a long hill, which was busy with traffic. My rucksack is up to about 14 kilos with bottles of water so I felt the climb. I’m not as young as I was. I need to keep going and to keep fit. It can be worrying because there are so many walks that I want to do and I’ll be disappointed if infirmity gets me first. But not defeated.

There were no great views today. It’s a main road, no footpaths and no hanging gardens of Babylon nor herds of Wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain. Just twee little rest places.

This road to the left is a GR route (long distance walk), always marked by a red and white horizontal stripe. I’m not going that way – southwards I’ll be bound.

The forecast rain was very heavy for half an hour and I rested under a tree, up against the trunk to keep me completely dry. Then it dried out and it rained no more.

At school we had French pen pals from Alencon and mine was Patrick (Paddy). His mum and dad were Pierre and Therese. This sign for Lisieux showed how significant those names are locally. They looked after me when I was young on trips to France and I loved being in their family. I’ll see Paddy this trip and visit the graves of Pierre and Therese. Wonderful people.

Well, I’m here in Pont L’Eveque in less than five hours. With a rucksack that’s not bad.

Maggie and I were here ten days ago, doing a bit of a gastronomic tour of Normandy on our way to and from Maggie’s godson’s wedding. Simon Carrere. He is a great lad, married to Marie-Anne and with a beautiful young daughter Lison. A great occasion and wonderful to see old friends again.

We did major damage to the local mussel population through conspicuous consumption. And it was great.

Pont L’Eveque is a nice place, with ancient buildings and decent cheese!

It also has mainland Europe’s finest sea trout river running through it.

My camp site was a mile out of town, up a footpath along the river bank.

Next to a beautiful lake.

Here’s my good old tent again. Faithful friend! I chose it over Wilson, my tarpaulin, as it affords greater protection from ants and snails.

And I’m now blogging from a lakeside deck. How pleasant it is.

Well my dears, I’m on my way to my trusty tent and I’ll be blogging tomorrow night from just down the road in the religiously significant town of Lisieux.

Night night.