Altitude 83m
Average heart beats/minute 101
70.5km – 9H27’
Good evening everyone,
I will begin this log with some geographic information:
– Departure from Champ de Boult in the Calvados department
-3 km later we enter the Manche, so 62 km were made across that department
-End of the stage at Sougéal at the entrance of l’Ille-et-Vilaine department, after Pontorson. This is our first stage in Brittany.
Normandy has 5 departments. Serge went through 4: l’Eure, La Seine Maritime, le Calvados and lastly La Manche, today. Which did he miss? Get out your atlas!
We have just spent 9 days in Normandy surrounded by corn prepared for silage, fields freshly ploughed as winter approaches, apples stacked and waiting for brewing, piles of sugar beet at the roadside, beautiful dairy cows that we hope won’t disappear from the scene because the price of milk has fallen so low, chestnuts ready to be collected.
Donkeys are legion in the fields and stroking a colt Serge might get bit in the backside if he doesn’t watch out! Rural life is beautiful in the bright sunshine around peaceful villages such as Brecey, Marcilly, Ducey and Pontaubault. As we approach Mont Saint Michel Serge takes a break in “René’s van” (it’s the name we have given it). The team takes the time to eat sandwiches and salad, standing up, as usual.
It may be a spell cast by the Mount; Serge runs as if he has wings and increases his speed. Today he has run alone for almost the entire stage, for the first time in 11 days. Francis from Avranches arrives just before Sougéal. Then Roger and Brigette are there too on their way back from Guingamp where the HAC won the soccer match. They are returning to our Cauchois territory but something tells me that we will see their camper again outside our borders……
Sougéal, a town of 660 souls, was informed of our arrival yesterday and responded spontaneously and favorably to our request for lodging for the night. Our thanks go to the mayor, Abel Goré, Mrs. Périaux, secretary of the town hall and Eric, the town’s employee for their warm welcome. Tonight we will park at the stadium and have access to showers and toilet, an electrical connection, and a small kitchen. What a pleasure and long live Brittany! Word of a Norman.
Town : Sougéal