I woke up way too late, about 10:30 if I remember correctly. But hey, I'm on holiday right. Repacking was a very good idea, as I needed some space for some food, plus my bike would be on the road, so I needed to make sure that my panniers sat right.
Putting on the top that benji gave me for the trip made me feel a bit more like the cyclist I was going to turn into. My bike was where I had left it locked up in reception, and off I set, snapping the photo above just before.
I had little idea of which road to take, but thought that I should initially head to Guînes, with the intention of reaching a campsite near Saint-Omer. Not so!
I took the wrong road, and quite literally did a circle on myself, heading out of, and then back into Calais. Frustrated, I stopped off to have lunch at a restaurant. Le poisson du jour, and it was great, the waitress good looking. I smashed one of their salt pots though.
After that, there was nothing for it, but I had to circle back, almost back to the hotel to get onto the right road for Guînes. 8km already wasted, so I would not be able to make Saint-Omer today. I decided to head for Ardres.
The ride was not too taxing, not any real hills, and I stopped off at an Aldi, getting coffee, wine (A nice 2004 Saint-Emilion), sweets, and apples. Up the road I also stopped off at the local "Champion", the "SuperU" of the north I think. All was good shopping, and after a limited conversation with the petrol attendant (accompanied by many gestures), I even got some fuel for my stove. Early morning coffee here I come.
I pulled up into the campsite in mid-afternoon and set up camp. The tent went up like a beauty. Then I had peanut butter sandwiches and apples for tea, and settled down for an extremely enjoyable night drinking wine and reading "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", a most absorbing book it must be said.
I had not travelled far at all, but no matter, for I was content!
