19 April

Although it had rained during the evening, it looked like the sky was clearing as I woke and prepared for the day.
Down at breakfast we undispersed halting conversation with eating and drinking, with me showing mine hostess the new watchband I had fitted yesterday. She asked where I was going today and then asked if I was going to visit Mont St Michel. I said it depended upon the weather. Then it was upstairs, finish, gather the dirty clothes (except, as I realise right now, my trousers – I should have put the other pair on this morning) and head out.
The weather seemed to show patches of blue as I headed north-east to Mont St Michel. The run was good and the roads were clear, until I got nearer. Then the roads became busier and more people appeared, especially on foot. As I crossed the causeway, the road was crowded and the footpath filled with people.
With the large numbers, there were parking marshals as well as a gate attendant. €4 to park the car, then a long walk into the actual mount, then another equally long walk up to the actual abbey. Here it was €8,50 to get in, or another €3 for a guided tour – but I had missed one and the next wasn’t for another hour, so I decided just to walk around.
The abbey is reasonable in size, as is the church; however, as I said before, seeing Amiens spoilt it for all the others. The amazing thing is that all the stone and other building material had to be brought over, and there was no causeway at the time until it was built. Also, because of the time over which the abbey was constructed, there are many different styles in the building. As well as accommodation for its inmates, it also had room for guests.
On the way out I met a man from South Carolina and his daughter. They were over for a week for a school trip, had seen some sights but did not know about the Somme. Another family were just over from England – I suppose it is easy enough to do for a weekend.
I left after midday and saw streams of others just heading in and many tourist buses – inside the Mount is a little village, mainly designed for tourists. Everything was in all languages and there were all services. The Post Office, from which I sent one postcard, shops selling all imaginable souvenirs, food stores of every different type and even toilets (at €0,40 a use). By the way, the comma as a decimal separator is not incorrect typing on my part, that’s what is used here.
I headed into Dinan, as last night I had been told that there was a laundrette here. I went through the town centre, and then back out – and saw it by the side of the street. I marked it in the SatNav and then went to McDonald’s for lunch. There was one just up the road a kilometre or so, and near a supermarket. Bad mistake; memo to self – do NOT go to a McDonald’s in a shopping area on a Saturday in the early afternoon, especially if it shares space with a supermarket AND it’s the last days of the school holidays. It took me nearly twenty minutes to get served, by which time I had uploaded my blogs for yesterday and the day before AND the photos (although by my standards there weren’t many photos). While eating I sent out an email and checked all my incoming email. One was about the second half of my trip, so I will carefully check that itinerary tonight and reply within few days.
After that, which was nearly 2, I returned to the laundrette, put my clothes in and got them washed, then put them in to dry. At well after 3, they should be dry in a few minutes and I will be off.
Alas – I was not thinking straight – I managed to end up with three very clean plastic bags, two shirts not washed and four sets of underwear not washed – and I forgot to change trousers!
I don’t feel too bad though, as the laundrette is no advertisement for front-loaders – not one of my shirts had its collar cleaned properly; even the top loaders in the US could get them looking cleaner, but nothing has come close to my machine at home (except maybe Pat’s). It may be a longer cycle, it may be the detergent I use, but I am now waiting to get home before I can expect clean shirts.
Everything was dry except the socks, so I put them on the back ledge of the car and went off to St Malo. Wonderful beach, a lot of yachts and so many people!
I managed to get some good photos there, then returned to my B&B via a leisurely route and was back by 5:30. I filled out log sheets for the cars I have been using (I got behind at the California coast). The Pontiacs averaged about 31 mpg, the Peugeot about 45 mpg and the Renault so far about 52 mpg, for those of you interested.
At 7:10 I have just caught up with everything.
I think I have a cold, so to bed soon with the heater turned up to see if I can get rid of it.