Sunday 20 May. Bayeux Ride.

Weather today started sunny but later clouded over and stayed dry apart from a brief shower in the afternoon as we were boarding the ferry. Temperature was cooler than of late at 13C with a chilly northerly wind.

After our usual substantial buffet breakfast we made an early start at 8.30 to ride to Bayeux. Incidentally this was in the opposite direction from the ferry at Ouistreham which we were due to catch at 5.00pm.

We enjoyed a pleasant morning ride in the early sunshine on quiet backroads. In one village we encountered the local Club Run with about 30 riders all in their Club jerseys and on lightweight road bikes.

After 1 1/2 hours we arrived in Bayeux getting to the Tapestry before the crowds and coach parties arrived. The Tapestry was well organised with audio handsets handed out in language of choice which guided us along the Tapestry giving details and explanations of each scene. We later watched a short film about the Tapestry.

Then short visit the Cathedral followed by brunch at a caf?.

We left for Ouistreham at about 12.15 taking an inland route on fairly quiet roads with the occasional climb to liven up the troops. We stopped to view a long barrow 6000 years old.

We arrived in Ouistreham with an hour to spare for a Caf? stop near the port entrance. We went to the Port an hour and a quarter before sailing but still only just in time to board ahead of the cars and get our choice of seats.

36 miles for the day.

This update emailed from the ferry using a mobile mast in range on the Isle of Wight.

Edwin