LiT and I are off cycling and camping around Normandy

Cafewanda

lost_in_thought wrote:

Cafewanda wrote:

Whatever you've forgotten you can buy as and when.

Lippy, lipsalve and mascara for those 'social' occasions

We'll expect a daily blog so don't forget

My username thingy on twitter is... wait for it... lost_in_thought...

No mention of the lippy/mascara then?

Only because I'm nosy have I signed up to that site

always_tyred

Look out for Lllamas.
(They are bigger than frogs)

Porgy

cjcp wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

It's OK on the phrasebooks, to blow my own trumpet I really do parler bien francais...

Not necessary. Everyone speaks English these days. And if they don't understand first time round, saying it louder and mouthing it gets through.

Normandy is the only bit of France I've been to where the English are positively welcome - and everyone speaks at least some English as far as I can tell.

And I think the dialect they speak there bears as much resemblance to French as what the Cornish speak does to english (ie, not much).

Also - I believe they sell toiletries in France - in shops.

Finally - I can vouch for the cider. It tastes like apples, is very cheap, and only about 1.5% - 3.0% alcoholic content....so you can drink quite a lot and you're not drunk after half a pint.

biondino

Aidy wrote:

When I went to Wales a couple of weekends back, I'd managed to forget my sleeping bag and thermarest. Whoops.

At least you know what a thermarest is (I don't!)

Liv - you've forgotten that wotsit - you know the thingy that does the doodad, you know, the completely essential one. I expect it's down the back of your sofa.

rolf_f

lost_in_thought wrote:

I'm convinced I've forgotten something... I just can't think what.

You're a girl - you should have everything neatly listed in alphabetical disorder. Leave the pre-holiday disorganised chaos to the blokes; we are so much better at it

biondino

Porgy wrote:

Finally - I can vouch for the cider. It tastes like apples, is very cheap, and only about 1.5% - 3.0% alcoholic content....so you can drink quite a lot and you're not drunk after half a pint.

Whereas the cider I drank in Normandy, while also delicious, was 5-6%. Enjoy

cjcp

Porgy wrote:

cjcp wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

It's OK on the phrasebooks, to blow my own trumpet I really do parler bien francais...

Not necessary. Everyone speaks English these days. And if they don't understand first time round, saying it louder and mouthing it gets through.

Normandy is the only bit of France I've been to where the English are positively welcome - and everyone speaks at least some English as far as I can tell.

And I think the dialect they speak there bears as much resemblance to French as what the Cornish speak does to english (ie, not much).

Is that because the Normans are "Men of the North" i.e. Scandanavians, and also those who settled in England, so they're all sort of related? I may have that all muddled up and barse ackwards. Anyone know whether this is true?

cjcp

Aidy wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I had it when I went to Wales. I'd forgotten my phone. :shock:

When I went to Wales a couple of weekends back, I'd managed to forget my sleeping bag and thermarest. Whoops.

Where did you go?

Coriander

OK, I'm packed and everything is loaded onto the bike.

Does it matter that I can't lift the back of the bike off the floor?

Hmmm, there's roughly 9,500ft of climbing over the 200 miles. That's not much, is it? Only about a 1000 ft a day more than we did on the Surrey ride a few weeks ago.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Help...

Aidy

Coriander wrote:

OK, I'm packed and everything is loaded onto the bike.

Does it matter that I can't lift the back of the bike off the floor?

Hmmm, there's roughly 9,500ft of climbing over the 200 miles. That's not much, is it? Only about a 1000 ft a day more than we did on the Surrey ride a few weeks ago.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Help...

You pedal with your legs, not your arms - it'll be fine

davmaggs

Is that because the Normans are "Men of the North" i.e. Scandanavians, and also those who settled in England, so they're all sort of related? I may have that all muddled up and barse ackwards. Anyone know whether this is true?

You might be confusing Norsemen with Normans. The Norsemen settled scottish islands and bits of England, whilst the term Normans is related to a separate group of people.

Wallace1492

davmaggs wrote:

Is that because the Normans are "Men of the North" i.e. Scandanavians, and also those who settled in England, so they're all sort of related? I may have that all muddled up and barse ackwards. Anyone know whether this is true?

You might be confusing Norsemen with Normans. The Norsemen settled scottish islands and bits of England, whilst the term Normans is related to a separate group of people.

I disagree, the Norsemen, did indeed settle in Normandy and was created by the Viking leader Rollo (kid you not). The name Normandy reflects his Viking roots.

Wallace1492

Wallace1492 wrote:

davmaggs wrote:

Is that because the Normans are "Men of the North" i.e. Scandanavians, and also those who settled in England, so they're all sort of related? I may have that all muddled up and barse ackwards. Anyone know whether this is true?

You might be confusing Norsemen with Normans. The Norsemen settled scottish islands and bits of England, whilst the term Normans is related to a separate group of people.

I disagree, the Norsemen, did indeed settle in Normandy and was created by the Viking leader Rollo (kid you not). The name Normandy reflects his Viking roots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of ... iddle_Ages

An explanation.

nicktheluddite

We passed through Normandy on our way to Switzerland - it was lovely - the ride over the Pont de Normandie is a bit hairy if you take the cycle lane, I'd take the pavement next time....... Don't forget to eat/drink plenty of cider/camembert/calvados to refuel. Honfleur is very pretty if a bit touristy. Tourist office can give you a list of all campsites in their department which is really helpful. Most places will be closed on Monday.

Porgy

I recommend the oysters!

Jay dubbleU

cjcp wrote:

Porgy wrote:

cjcp wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

It's OK on the phrasebooks, to blow my own trumpet I really do parler bien francais...

Not necessary. Everyone speaks English these days. And if they don't understand first time round, saying it louder and mouthing it gets through.

Normandy is the only bit of France I've been to where the English are positively welcome - and everyone speaks at least some English as far as I can tell.

And I think the dialect they speak there bears as much resemblance to French as what the Cornish speak does to english (ie, not much).

Is that because the Normans are "Men of the North" i.e. Scandanavians, and also those who settled in England, so they're all sort of related? I may have that all muddled up and barse ackwards. Anyone know whether this is true?

True - they are descendants of a Viking called Rollo the Ganger - so called because he walked everywhere being too big to ride a horse - and of course William the B*stard otherwise known as the Conqueror

Wallace1492

Jay dubbleU wrote:

[

True - they are descendants of a Viking called Rollo the Ganger - so called because he walked everywhere being too big to ride a horse - and of course William the B*stard otherwise known as the Conqueror

See my post above..... yes Rollo is the man!!

redvee

Rode the Pont Du Normandie and quaffed coffee in the harbour of Honfleur. As mentioned above, use the cycle lane on the bridge. Steep on the way up be a weeee on the way down, even more so with all the gear you ladies will be taking.

itboffin

Oh dear god I've just stummbled on this, my heart is all a flutter will the be one or three sleeping bags? How much wine?

I need pictures and video poor quality is fine :roll:

Aidy

itboffin wrote:

Oh dear god I've just stummbled on this, my heart is all a flutter will the be one or three sleeping bags? How much wine?

Three? To keep the wine warm?

stuaff

itboffin wrote:

Oh dear god I've just stummbled on this, my heart is all a flutter will the be one or three sleeping bags? How much wine?

I need pictures and video poor quality is fine :roll:

You really need some decent inner tubes. Just guessing that............;)

Stone Glider

Calvados at the end of every day (with coffee) and at the start of every day (with chocolat) The rest of your time will pass smoothly and swiftly

BTW avoid "Le Swisse Normande", it is seriously bumpy. But very lovely. Enjoy.

JonS123

You don;t need tents, sleeping bags and a bit of plastic sheeting if it rains, think of the weight saving!

vorsprung

Normandy is not lumpy so you should be fine

Wallace1492

So, LiT/Coriander, when do we get the report? Did you get to see the Bayeux Tapestry or rather embrodiery, I was there in late July and thaought it was pretty amazing for something done nearly 1,000 years ago. Its amazing it has survived so long.

I also visited the American cemetry at Colleville sur Mer and found it very moving.

lost_in_thought

It was good thanks, Normandy is not completely flat, but sure felt it after Wales!

Didn't quite make it to Bayeux, it was stinking hot so we went for a pootle along the beaches looking at war memorials instead. Good fun! I have learned that I can cycle quite a long way on consecutive days at a moderate pace, and that camping is not at all hellish when you have the right gear.

Edit: also, my altura panniers, although small, are great. What's more, villagers in Normandy like to have slate steeples on their church, Caen is where William The B@stard lived, and is buried, and still has ruins created by us lot during the war. Honfleur is lovely, just lovely. Cider ain't bad either! And Nuun Tri-Berry turns from pink to yellow and loses its acidity when exposed to bright sunlight for prolonged periods.

greg66_tri_v2.0

lost_in_thought wrote:

It was good thanks, Normandy is not completely flat, but sure felt it after Wales!

Didn't quite make it to Bayeux, it was stinking hot so we went for a pootle along the beaches looking at war memorials instead. Good fun! I have learned that I can cycle quite a long way on consecutive days at a moderate pace, and that camping is not at all hellish when you have the right gear.

Edit: also, my altura panniers, although small, are great. What's more, villagers in Normandy like to have slate steeples on their church, Caen is where William The B@stard lived, and is buried, and still has ruins created by us lot during the war. Honfleur is lovely, just lovely. Cider ain't bad either! And Nuun Tri-Berry turns from pink to yellow and loses its acidity when exposed to bright sunlight for prolonged periods.

Ummm, don't want to he hyper critical, but that report's a little light on the cycling, if you see what I mean...

You did take your bikes in the end, didn't you? :P

lost_in_thought

Well we had to, yeah. :P

It was good, mostly flat, on the other side of the road, pace was pretty steady, no big hills (compared to Wales), lovely smooth roads with barely a car in sight. I had some trouble with both my derailleurs (stupid veloce) which led for some amusing painfully slow uphill grinding, and just a little bit of walking.

_Brun_

Did you manage to keep your front wheel on the ground and your backside off it?

lost_in_thought

_Brun_ wrote:

Did you manage to keep your front wheel on the ground and your backside off it?

Shut it, you.


(yes)