There was heavy rain last night but my gear and I were very dry. Even the tent dried out overnight as there was plenty of wind. It was also noticably cooler. I had the down jacket on again this morning when I finally got out of the tent.
I’m going to miss sleeping in the tent. It’s hardly roughing it – it’s my (by now) very familiar home away from home that I would prefer to most hotel rooms. What I don’t prefer is getting up to pee at 3am. That’s where hotel rooms win easily.
So, three more rides until this European adventure is over. I’m definitely ready to start the homeward journey. Even France, my favourite country in Europe, is starting to drag on just a little.
Anyway, my late starts are getting later, and after breakfast and coffee, I left the campground at around 10:30am. Yes, definitely winding down … In my defence, it wasn’t a long ride and there was absolutely no rush.
And that was a good thing because it was a slow trip all day.
Berck wasn’t impressive. It wasn’t particularly beautiful, nor was the beach, but I shouldn’t complain. Near the campground, there were a number of healthcare facilities and some that had closed down. They were right on the beach, so access was limited.
I left and joined the Eurovelo 4 for the rest of the day. Komoot clearly disagreed with this though. While it routed me along the EV4 for most of the day, there were inexplicable deviations for no real gain.
I detoured into Le Touquet to grab the food for the day, which I did, but it was crawling with people strolling around. It was a well kept place but apart from nice lawns, expensive cars and general tidiness, there wasn’t much going on. I got a regrettable baguette and some average croissant at an artisanal boulangerie. Ahem… I’m now a conisseur and there was nothing artisanal about these.
I sound negative today, but I’m simply in an area which is more touristic than where I’ve been. The last week has been quintessential France to me, and I’ve really enjoyed the places I’ve been and the warm hospitality along the way. By lunchtime, there was no accommodation available in Boulogne sur mer (except for a hostel, which is where I’m staying).
I had a lunch break and relaxed, ate, made coffee and got going again. And lo and behold, there were even some small hills. It turned out to be an enjoyable ride and I arrived at my destination at around 4:30pm.
Later, I walked into town and couldn’t believe the difference between April 2023 and August 2024. Last year, I spent my first night in Europe here. Accommodation was easy to find and there were no people about. It was raining and cold. I had a steak tartare for my first french meal (in a while) and loved it.
Tonight, it’s a different story. I’m having a beer in the main square, watching ongoing arguments (which resulted in the local gendarmerie making an appearance) and motorbikers doing laps, but generally enjoying the atmosphere.
