37.7 miles

Ascent 208 metres Descent 183 metres

Not quite the boring day we had been hoping for.

Getting out of any city on a bike is tricky if you are trying to avoid main roads. An old Michelin route map does not contain sufficient detail and even the technology (or the operator) can let you down.

As we were muddling our way out we met these two men who were marking the routes for cyclists. In Franglais they told us the route to follow which worked perfectly until we ended up on an industrial site. We went round and round the site admiring the JCBs, pushed down an overgrown path and ended up on a dual carriageway.

This delayed us about 2 hours before we broke free of Rouen. We pedalled hard and Alison thought a nice ride along the banks of the Seine to find a campsite would be perfect.

It is not an everyday occurrence when two pensioners on bikes turn up at your restaurant as service is starting asking for a room because everything is closed. The chef was desolée but no room in the inn. He was charming and phoned around to try to find us somewhere to stay.

Nothing.

We have pitched our tent in his garden and enjoyed a meal. No wifi or charging but hope to rectify tomorrow. Alison says she has a plan.

Hoping tomorrow will be boring.