Yesterday was the start of what would be three days traveling on the old railway path…..the rails have gone to be swapped for a flat crushed gravel surface.

First day took me to the campground mentioned in last blog, the second day took me to Alencon where I spent two nights( the Sunday day off was spent swimming(allowed this time courtesy of vending machine approved trunks).. it was a good pool and sauna/steamroom/Jacuzzi also…two hours spent chilling then went to town for a look about.

Photos below of way to Alencon

Met a couple of people at the campsite, first night a British chap sorting out a house he bought in France.. and all the paperwork involved. Then second night I was in town….the sky went ink black in the distance and it approached fairly quickly. …this was matched by the speed I headed back to tent. On arrival started to deploy guy ropes… when Bang, the wind hit gale force…..followed by torrential rain. Myself and new neighbour bugged out to toilet block….for shelter from lightning and rain….shortly after her friend arrived in tears….she had gone for beer, got caught in weather and has rear cycle rack collapse into wheel. After the storm stopped we introduced ourselves I lent a bike pump due to punctures and there pump failing.

I left next morning to follow the 18month old new route to bangnoles sur le orne, nearly fully off road on again old rail track.

Hard going in parts as gravel a bit loose, twigs down due the storm and gravel ‘sticky’

Deviated to go up highest hill/mountain in north west France at 416mtr…the viewing tower at 433mtr

Arrived at the campsite…and 30 min later the austrian/czeck duo arrived and set up two down from me. They have ridden from Vienna in Austria via Strasbourg, Paris and on way to an island if Brittany coast to visit a lighthouse then u turn south to nante and west home..having a sieve of brain for names…I recall she was christel. This will no doubt be corrected in comments!