Neufchatel en Bray

Thursday 26th May

Le Crotoy to Neufchatel en Bray

Quel Horreur! It rained today. Not what we came to France for. So we decamped and travelled south, not too far, to a campsite at Neufchatel en Bray, which is inland between Dieppe and Amiens, in the Seine-Maritime region of Normandy. The site is about 50 meters from the Avenue verte; a cycle track on a disused railway line which extends for 40 km or so east from Dieppe.

Which is why there are pictures of me looking more than slightly ridiculous pulling a cart with two dogs, when at my age they should be pulling me. The problem with dogs on a cycle ride is that any sections going through villages or across roads involve either dismounting and putting the pooches on a lead, or cycling with said canines on a lead attached to cyclist. The latter approach gets very exciting, not to say death defying, when a cat or rabbit is spotted and has to be chased. Also, we are hoping to do some longish rides as we get fitter- we went 16km last night- and the missus says the short fat hairy legs will get tired and need a rest after a long stretch, and so can be parked in the dogcart from time to time.

Colin is in fact getting fitter. He is now more whippet than Sumo wrestler and would give Daley Thompson a run for his money if he spotted a nice piece of fillet steak running through the woods.