Today was filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows…and now as I sit in my tent about 2.5 km outside of Dieppe, my body aches and I feel emotionally drained, I’m nervous, yet excited about the days ahead.
Yesterday, I had a great roast with my friends Tanya and Raoul. Raoul and I went over final details as we had decided to tour together for a few days before Tanya drives to meet us in France. The general plan is that Tanya will meet us at a campsite near Bayeux, and then the three of us, plus their three year old boy would have a few days to do some sightseeing before I set of f on the rest of my trip.
Things went well…I finished my packing late last night, had a great dinner with close friends, and got in bed at about midnight.
Our ferry left Newhaven for Dieppe this morning at 8am. That meant that we needed to start cycling from Brighton at about 6.30am to make the ferry with comfortable time to spare in case we ran into any problems.
My send off this morning….incredible. After an early start at 5am, Raoul came over and we then made our way to Brighton’s newest (and best, might I add) coffee shop, Ground. One of the co-owners, Rick (also a fellow Oregonian), opened shop early for us and at 5.45am a small party of friends congregated to wish us well over Rick’s ridiculously delicious coffee.
Ground Coffee Shop, Kemptown Village, Brighton
Ground Coffee - It's 5.45am...it's still dark out
Firing up the coffee machine
the leaving party - thanks to 'Ground' for opening early for us!
Set for departure!
It's dark, it's cold, it's 6am...I'm leaving
After some hugs and tears Raoul and I set off, followed by friends on cycles who followed us all the way to the ferry terminal at Newhaven. I as write this it seems ages ago already! It was dark out when we left and it’s dark again now…I’m curled up in sleeping bag, with laptop.
The departure party on the way to Newhaven...sunrise imminent.
Arrival at Newhaven
Farewell England
After the ferry, an early morning whisky and pint, we arrived Dieppe with good time to put some miles in and explore the Normandy country side.
We set off well, making good time…the small roads were fantastic and riding was brilliant. The Surly handled well – even better when fully loaded might I add. Our plan wasn’t exactly to go far but to enjoy the ride and set up camp early…well…we found an operating campsite…but perhaps a little to early…so we decided to ride on…and on…and on…and then found another campsite, but it wasn’t open, and another which wasn’t open…and so on. I won’t bore you with all the details, but we put in about 40km of riding in France…and we are currently camped about 2.5km from where the ferry dropped us off in Dieppe! What a wild goose chase!
And we're off...only to camp 2.5km from here...after a 40km ride!
But all is well, we had great apricot croissants and lovely baguettes.
One thing that has really hit me today, is the realization of being on my own for so long. I suppose it’s not the miles that scare me or the weather, but the endless days of loneliness. Perhaps that isn’t something I really need to worry about as I’m sure I will meet other tourers on the road, and I intend to use couch surfing quite a bit…but I do miss my friends already…and without a set date to see them again and the open road ahead of me…the anxiety of loneliness had taken seat in the pit of my stomach…it does scare me.
I am so grateful that my friends Tanya and Raoul have decided to send me off by joining me for a few days….that really does help.
First tea break
Day 1 campsite
65km Bicycled Today
65km to Date
