June 10 Bayeux to St Lo 44 kms
What a day! Sue kept asking me what the date was, to which I replied that I had no idea. So focussed on the road ahead was I that it took some very heavy hints to remind me that it was June 10, Sue's 65th birthday! Won't Sue dine out on this story! She celebrated her birthday by riding up all the hills and hitting 40 kph on a downhill!
We called in to the town of Cerisy-la-Foret to see the work of a group of international scupltors who were working on their pieces from June 7-21. Too early to appreciate the works but plenty of dust and noise. Walked around a pretty lake and viewed sculptures from past competitions and also visited the Abbaye de Cerisy, a romanesque-style church dating from the 11th C. Given a guided tour by a student who loved the buildings. Saw the Justice Room where the Bishop held court and administered justice, as well as the cellars and a small cell for prisoners. There are also a series of underground tunnels created as a means of escape for the monks if they were under attack. In the nave of the church we saw some beautiful oak seats built in the 13thC, the invoice for which is still in existence. Also viewed some 13thC manuscripts and music sheets. A most enjoyable stop.
The first 25 kms from Bayeux was along pretty country roads without any serious hills, but this all changed after Cerisy. The hills became more frequent, the traffic heavier, and the temperature rising to 26. St Lo seemed to be a series of hills, which was compounded by the fact that we had trouble locating the 'Best Hotel' where Iain had reserved a room. Took us about 2 hours of asking for directions and riding up and down hills before we found the hotel, which was modern, basic, but better than the one at Ifs. I gave Sue's weary body a massage and then took her out to dinner at Buffalo Grills to celebrate her birthday. Fast food, and a friendly African waitress. Fortunately Sue's spare ribs were tender and tasty. My buffalo steak was the toughest meat I have had for years.