May 2

Slept in until 7:10 after all that walking yesterday. Read the train schedule and decided I should take the 10:50 from Caen to Ouistreham. Checked out the Mercure restaurant and what I wanted would have cost me €15. Now I don’t consider myself cheap, but even that was too rich for me. So I decided to take a walk around the area and see what I could get. This was before 8:00 and nothing was open except a couple of bread shops which I may stop at later. I went to the Chateau Ducal built or started by William the Bastard (same guy in the tapestry) in 1060. Caen has been sited here since 1025. This was a grand structure in its day with a moated keep. Unfortunately most of it was destroyed in 1944 and some has been restored. On the way back from here I saw a brassiere that was open for breakfast. I asked for un petit dejeuner and didn’t understand the full implication so ended up with a baguette and butter and jam and a nice cup of coffee. They make up for in coffee what they lack in beer. This was very tasty and took the emptiness out of my stomach. The lady who ran the place sang to the music on the radio and did a good rendition of Patsy Cline’s “I’m Sorry.” I told her “J’aime que tu chanter.” And she was very pleased.

On the way back to the hotel a man had a small open air vegetable and fruit stall. I bought two “Canada” apples grown in France, an orange and a banana for €.94. At first I picked up the fruit and he cautioned me saying that he would serve me. Again no English, but friendly. Next door was a boulangerie or bakery and there I got a baguette and an apple turnover for €2.10. I am all set for lunch. Back at the room I ate one of the apples. It was soft but very nice and juicy. Back home I suspect we would use it as a juice apple. By 9:30 I was ready to go and checked out and headed for the bus terminal. It took about 25 minutes at a leisurely pace and a stop for some elemental cheese at another stall. It was only €2.10 and by now all I had was a €50 note. That was no problem for the enterprising businessman who made change for me. I must have been nearly to the hotel yesterday when I turned around because all the streets going back looked familiar. I was unable to connect to a WIFI so had another good cup of coffee at a bar and read until the bus came. Weather this morning is overcast, about 15 and a slight mist in the air but no wind. The bus came right on time and left with me as the only passenger. It took a swing back through town and to my surprise stopped just outside of my hotel and picked up another 5 people. That was the last stop until we reached the ferry terminal. I picked up my boarding pass and waited 30 minutes until we went through security and took a shuttle to the ferry.

I scoped out a table, picked up a beer by 12:10 and proceeded to have lunch from my morning’s gatherings. The cheese was good, but the bread was ooh la lah, terrific and a banana for dessert. The ferry departed at 12:20; 10 minutes early so I’m glad I wasn’t late. The ride seems smooth but then again we aren’t very far out. The crossing is scheduled to take 3 ½ hours. After we were out for a while and up to peak speed the ferry seemed to be swaying from side to side and it was difficult to get your sea legs. I found a comfortable lounge chair and put the back down somewhat and was comfortable for the rest of the ride. I woke up at 2:05 English time and could see we were just going past the Isle of Wight and slowed down in the harbour. It was a smooth finish to the journey. I was off the ferry and through customs with no problems by 2:55. I walked about a ¼ mile to a bus stop and it arrived at 3:20. It was sunny and warm here likely in the low 20’s. I got off in Bosham at 4:00 and walked 1 ½ miles to the Bosham Church referenced in the tapestry. Kind of neat to come full circle. I walked around inside and got some good pictures and a brochure explaining its features. One picture in particular is of a tomb of an 8 year old girl, reputed to be the daughter of King Kanute. I have included a picture. I walked back ½ mile and was tempted to stop for a beer at the Berkley Arms, so I did. 4 horses attached to sulkies (Brent McGrath wouldn’t have approved) were tied to trees across the road while their owners had an ale. I saw two of them racing down the pavement in front of our bus previously. I walked the last mile back to the bus stop and discovered that I cover a mile in 10 minutes at a moderate pace. At the bus stop I checked the time and realized I had time to have a bite as it was 5:00. Same fare, still good but I should have had it with the beer. Now you realize that in France they drive on the right and two days was enough to confuse me as I was waiting on the wrong side of the road for the bus. Fortunately I realized this before the bus in my direction came and would have left without me. I got off in Chichester and to my surprise, the couple I had met last week on the way home from the Isle of Wight, had seen me get on the bus and recognised me by my hat. They were pleased to know that I had indeed made it to France and especially pleased that I was to Bosham.

I really can’t believe how much I squeezed into this weekend but was happy to be back home in West Dean to spend the night. I’ll check the train and bus schedules and see what tomorrow brings but I shall definitely be in another locale tomorrow.