June 13 Villedieu les Poeles to Avranches 23.5 km
There is nothing pleasant about riding uphill on cold legs, and this morning, within a km of the town centre we struck a corker. Walking the steepest bit was the most sensible thing, so we did. The road today was a fairly busy one with its fair share of hills. Saw a toilet sign in a small town, but couldn't find the toilet. On enquiring, we discovered that it was almost a km away in the next town! Another steady steep heavily trafficked climb into Avranches, arriving late morning after our 8.30 am start. Sitting down to a coffee when it started to rain quite heavily. Noticed that there was a hotel attached to the bar, so booked in. Bikes had to stay in a courtyard at the back which served a couple of businesses. Accessed via a door on the street, so felt he bikes would be reasonably secure.
Visited the Basilique St Gervais in which there was a locked glassed room full of religious treasures, the oddest being a human skull, in an ornate gold cabinet, with a hole in the skull, reputedly caused when an angel laid her finger on the saint's head.
Then went to the Scriptorial d'Avranches to see the ancient manuscripts of Mont St Michel, beautifully preserved, the oldest dating to 10th C.
Later went for a walk through the cobbled streets and onto the castle ramparts, which gave a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside.