We got an early start to compensate for our long drive to the starting point. On the bikes by 9:30 in order to get to our destination in time for coffee break.
We started in Manerbe. If was chilly but early climbs kept our bodies warm.
Heading up hill.
And the start of our first climb.
On the D50 heading in the right direction.
Although we were heading down this 12% grade going up on the other side was just as challenging. The steepest grade today was 13+%.
Our Lady (Notre Dame) of yet another place. She does get around.
Five more kilometers to our destination.
Riding gives you ample time to think. So my mind wandered to touring the town and a just reward. Then the thought popped up - wouldn't a chocolate crepe fit the bill.
Oh No - one more hill before we get there.
But had to stop for a photo of this church setting.
This region is noted for its apple cider.
Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples.
Calvados and Cider Brandy Calvados, made almost exclusively in Normandy, is a cider spirit. Cider is made with specific apples or pears (some of them being very old varieties), and there are four types of apples used in cider making: sweet, bittersweet, bitter and sour.
Numerous apple orchards along the way.
Hooray, we have arrived.
Which brings a smile to Kim's face.
One of the reasons the town is so famous is the stucco and half timber Normandie style architecture.
Parked the bikes so we could explore the town by foot.
Before the main event we started with a "warm up" coffee.
A lovely Australian couple stopped to chat. It is interesting how you filter out all the foreign gibberish until you hear a few words of English and launch into a conversation.
We talked with them for a while getting a major portion of their life story. He is a retiree from the Australian Air Force who has traveled to the US numerous times. Their daughter lives in San Jose. With her first baby on the way I am sure there are many more trips in their future. He is also an avid cyclist who rode up Mont Ventoux as well. Got lots of other details too numerous to recount.
Ah pilgrim your searched is ended.
It might not be heaven, but it is real.
Time to order the crepes. Too many choices but anything short of chocolate and whipped cream would be a travesty.
Gave serious consideration to number 27 but upped my game with the one with home made chocolate sauce (Valrhona) and topped with whipped cream.
Coffee round two plus crepes for two.
A perfect crepe topped with chocolate and whipped cream for me...
and bananas, chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream for Kim.
"and they licked their platters clean"
Guess we liked it.
The town was lovely even with the many other tourists around.
The architectural style was a prominent feature. Almost looks like it was constructed by Disney.
The main street through town is decked out with lots of flora and fauna.
Time to move on in order to make Kim's afternoon hair appointment.
Down the hill and around the bend was this beautiful setting.
Some of the ride was completely enclosed with a canopy of overhanging trees.
We also rode along between hedge rows on both sides of the road. Those who have read about the Allied troop advances from the Normandy beaches to the interior of France know about the challenges of fighting in this maze of hedge rows. It was common for one group of soldiers to be on one side of the hedge and the enemy soldiers advancing on the other side. This vegetation was a major obstacle for both man and machine.
Only half a kilometer to the end.
What a beautiful day and enjoyable ride.
And don't forget the crepes!
A welcomed site at the end of any ride - getting back to where we parked the car.
From here we headed to Brionne (pronounced bree-own) - a small town just 3 kilometers from home.
Kim has an appointment to get a somewhat overdue "cut & color"
Veronique did a fabulous job at less than half the cost in Colorado. Factoring the cost of airfare coming back once a month does not make economic sense but would be lots of fun.
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