After our three days of troubled riding we looked into taking the train rather than cycling – but it was a Sunday and trains were cancelled due to engineering works. So we cycled along “Euro Velo 4” which was a very nice route along the coast. It was a sunny Sunday, there are successive small beachside towns along the route there many people were out enjoying the sun, we were in a holiday mood – we stopped for coffee and ice creams and chips – it was only 30km and nice and relaxed.
Come, woo me,
woo me, for now I am in a holiday humor, and like
enough to consent.
(As You Like It, Act 4 Scene1
We were at the hotel in Calais by 15:00 – “Le metropol” a big old-fashioned French Hotel. I like these old places, a bit shabby round the edges but nice all the same. It was obviously built when there was a lot more tourist and commercial traffic in the town and survives now on reduced custom.
Calais
Here too you can walk around the ramparts – at least on the western side of the town – there is a big old barracks area dating from old hostilities with UK, now partly disused and partly turned into a sports arena. A nice walk on a sunny autumnal day.
But our main reason for a day here was the Lace Museum. Calais was a major lace-producing town and still has a couple of factories.
Two very nice meals in “Aux Vieux Foureaux”. Starters: Terrine of chicken Livers, Smoked Trout. Main: Seabass with Asparagus. Dessert: Roasted Pineapple with rum and chantilly. Second night: Starter: Salmon and avocado tiramisu. Main: Risotto with panfried scallops. Dessert: pannacotta with passionfruit sauce. Fine French Fare.
And the trip home
Train to London, cycle across London.
