Beaumont to Le Mans – Wet and Cold

Well, maybe not cold, but cool. And wet throughout the night. Schoolboy smile. Then a noisy Dutch couple and their noisy kids shrieked into action just before 7am. I’m getting up! A loud, high pitched, woman’s voice shouting Dutch makes it sound like a kiddie’s made-up language. Hoobldy boobldy bitter mek caaaar!

Just shut up!!!

They didn’t. I’m getting up. I’m packing my sleeping bag, lilo, tent and other crap in my rucksack and buggering off downtown to get a coffee and warm up. In fact two coffees and an eclair from the Boulangerie next door. Whilst it oiked it down outside again.

Then I stomped off down the road, like Captain Mainwaring, again, but this time in a right mood, as if I’d been beaten to golf club membership by Sergeant Wilson.

Wilson, your golf club membership won’t do you any good if Jerry lands on the 16th green tomorrow. Hitler doesn’t wait for you to finish your round you know.

Beaumont sur Sarthe is a nice town, but all is sullied by the weather. However, for Percy Tiddlecock (me) it’s a bit of a bonus as it’s great walking weather.

After crossing the Sarthe I headed southeastwards off the main Le Mans road onto country lanes. It was pleasant country. Not spectacular, not disappointing, just pleasant. Bullrushes and maize, great combination for a photo.

How about maize and maize! The anarchic appearance of the nearest (upper level) plants and the structured ranks down on the flood plain.

The roofs of this hamlet, standing just above the wheat and the brow of the hill, made them look a bit like monoliths.

Now fair play to the bloke with the sunken van and the person who piled their Peugeot into the pit. At least they had vehicles left. This one only had the reg plate left. Must have been a catastrophic collision. 59 – Belgian border. Not surprised.

Le Mans was elusive. I worked hard to get there. Just over 18 miles, and it’s not a bad town.

The apartment I was booked into was small, charming and well equipped. Just like me! Well one out of three isn’t too bad. Schoolboy sniggers all round.

I legged it down to the local Carrefour and got a cauli, some cheese, some mashed carrots and a couple of slices of ham. I got back, cooked the cauli cheese, microwaved the carrots and had a veritable feast. Back to a real bed again. Hopefully there won’t be any Dutch families or Belgian Bikers next door.

Night night.