Le Crotoy-Le Touquet-Calais-Dunkirk-Lille

Ipapashiwe: 07.06.2022

6.6.2022 Breakfast is not served until 8:45 a.m., but today my workload is not so heavy and it's all flat. The weather is sunny again with some clouds, but the wind is blowing, mostly from the northwest, so it's positive for me, although the headwind sections still feel tough. Some seaside resorts with lots of fine sand and wide beaches are on the itinerary for today. I see some land yachts (a type of sailboat with wheels) in a few places. I take a lunch break in Berck. In the afternoon, I arrive in Le Touquet, a popular seaside resort with many holiday apartments along the beach promenade. There are also enough restaurants here, maybe for this time of year. There are some beach bars where I enjoy the sunset after dinner.

7.6.2022 Contrary to the weather forecast, which predicted a 5% chance of rain, it actually starts raining in the morning. The weather radar indicates it will end at 9 a.m. So, okay, I'm ready at 9 a.m. and it's still raining, which means I have to go through the whole routine with rain protection, jacket, pants, shoes, and Paris-style helmet for the second time. The rain varies in intensity, sometimes heavier, sometimes lighter or very fine. In Etaples, there is the largest British military cemetery from World Wars I and II with over 11,500 casualties. Before Boulogne, I take off the rain protection; it seems like it has definitely stopped raining.. In Boulogne-sur-Mer, I have a coffee; my clothes are damp from sweating, so I start cycling again before I cool down. There are some more ups and downs, and it starts drizzling again. Once, I take shelter for fifteen minutes when it gets heavier. I continue towards Calais, the sky clears up, and they are renovating everything along the beach promenade, almost finished already. In July, Calais will be the destination of the Tour de France, so everything should be perfect. You can see bike advertisements in all the shop windows and on the squares. The weather has changed now, the sun is shining.

8.6.2022 in the morning, I can already hear the rain on the roof outside the hotel window. I take my time as it's supposed to get better later. I enjoy the breakfast in the elegant salon. Around 10 a.m., I finally get ready; the rain hasn't completely stopped, so I put on my rain gear and start cycling. Luckily, I have a tailwind and don't have to pedal so hard to make some progress and avoid sweating too much. The bike paths towards Dunkirk are partly new or on low-traffic roads. In Gravelines, a city protected by city walls and moats, it's time for coffee, and I get a sandwich from the bakery for lunch. I ride with a break for lunch and later pack up the rain gear, ending up in Dunkirk. It's quite a big city, and I booked a room near the beach to make sure there are restaurants there. The check-in is not until 5 p.m., which I only noticed after booking, and there is no breakfast. It's a music pub with a few rooms, but it's fine. There is no secure place for the bike; everything is very cramped, including the staircase. Somehow, I manage to carry the bike up to the second floor into my room. I get tips on where to find a bakery and where to leave the key in the morning.

9.6.2022 I get 2 croissants and make coffee in the room, then pack up and head towards the Belgian border. A beautiful bike path along an old railway line takes me right up to the border, then it ends. I ride on the road until I reach De Panne. The beach looks somewhat similar to Dunkirk, but the buildings and restaurants on the beach promenade are noticeably better maintained. The signage feels more familiar. After a coffee, I ride the same way back for about 20km. Unfortunately, I didn't study the schedule so well, the next train to Lille only leaves at 3 p.m. The train is almost empty, and in an hour, I arrive in Lille. At the train station, I have to get a ticket for the trip to Paris for the following day. Unfortunately, there is no TGV with bike transport on this route, and the ticket machines are only for TGVs, so I have to wait in line at the ticket office. It's already 5:30 p.m. when I arrive at the hotel. There is not much time left, and I'm already on foot again, although I'm just nearby, but life also takes place near the train station, where the hotel is located.