Mortain to Camping St Gregory Via Mont St Michel: Yes we are camping!

August 10, 2013

So much seems to have happened today I can barely remember this morning. We set off as planned on the Voie Vert following the green tunnel towards Mont St Michel. As we anticipated it was easy riding nearly all down hill and even I can cope with that. We stopped for a coffee at Ducey and then back on the Voie Vert. Not long after that things got a bit more difficult, we ran out of signs and the route was not at all obvious. Stopping to ask a couple of French cyclists was anything but helpful. The directed us to a vague track which changed from bad gravel to a single bumpy track to grass. We kept going as there seemed no easy means of escape, all the gates leading out of this place seemed to be wired up. Eventually we came to one we could get out of and then who should we see bumping along in the distance but the two French they too were looking for a means of escape. Through the one opening gate we were on a tiny road. Again the French gave us lots of good advice but this time we chose to put our trust in the GPS so we went in opposite directions. It was taking us a fairly long way around but we were actually getting nearer to Mont St Michel.

Being Saturday by this time we were wondering where we would sleep and I began to call into every Chambre d’Hote or Hotel we saw, the answer was always the same ‘complet’. But of course we have our secret weapon the tent but where ever was there a camping ground. By this time we were riding around the coast road and Ken spotted the sign ‘camping’. It pointed inland and said it was 4km. That was a lie it was much further but we persisted and came to Camping St Gregory. Reception was shut (it was that magic French shutting time) but it looked OK so we waited. We got a lovely site under a tree and a bottle of cidre.

The cidre must have given me energy because with our camp inexpertly set up we set off on the 24km round trip to Mont St Michel. This astounding place is in grave danger of being loved to bits. The crowds on the causeway felt worse than those in Venice. We locked the bikes at the end of the causeway concerned that like the bikes of Collette and David in Vienna we wouldn’t see them again. Inside the gates the crush was even worse so after a very short time we decided that this was not for us. Back to the bikes and on our way to the camping. This camp ground is full of families and seems a haven, we had a wonderful refreshing swim in the pool. Life seems good

Yes our Voie Vert is an old railway line complete with stations

My friends at Maramarua would appreciate that we have to stop for cows crossing

Perhaps this would be a fun way to travel

Most tourists go along the causeway by bus but a bike is the secret weapon

Look at that little compartment in the man's bike it holds a tiny baby. They were looking for somewhere to stop for the night

Today's ride: 87 km (54 miles)
Total: 700 km (435 miles)

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