Brittany 2010-09-16/20

From Flers we head home.

I don't think I'll bother with an Etap hotel again, they are off my list - poor bed arrangement, shit coffee. Ibis and B&B are fine though.

Barry's sat-nav fully charged, we set off along lots more straight roads - but eventually things start to get more interesting.

This being a Monday, just about everywhere was shut, but Barry spotted a café open in Saint-Victor-L'Abbaye, so we swing in. "Sandwich?" I enquire, and the patron gets his lady to fetch some bagettes and paté, and we all have a drink and make ourselves 'les sandwichs'. Incredibly the bill comes to only EUR4 each - so we pay EUR5 each instead - one very happy patron, eight well-victualled riders.

We stopped at Honfleur again for a coffee-break, and then some great roads getting to the environs of Boulogne. We then went onto the autoroute, and I waved my goodbyes to the others and wound up to WOT all the way back to the Tunnel. A bagette and a coffee were purchased, and having drunk the coffee I left the bagette for the journey. Straight through onto the train, embarking with three other bikes. Two cars couldn't be fitted on, we were right at the back of the last carriage.

Once back in Blighty I made a quick fuel stop at Maidstone services, and zoomed home - I was on a mission to get down the pub and have some English beer for a change, plus make an important phone call. All accomplished!

Huge thanks to all involved, especially Brian and Jan, Colin for the superb routes that he was unable to enjoy in person, Barry for leading most of the time, John for excellent tail-gunning without falling asleep, and everyone for the usual terrific banter and laughs. Brian and Jan, we'll be seeing you again!

Odo: 337 miles today, 1119 in total.