Chernourg, Caen, Le Mans, Tours, Bourges Moulins, Vichy

Last night, we checked into our hotel - Hotel la Louvre, which was 10 minutes drive from the port, and perfectly situated in the town centre with secure parking. 

It was a lovely 3 star , newly renovated (€ 59, perfect for an overnight.) We repaired to a nearby hostelry, which sported a micro brewery 

on the premises and then adjourned to Brasserie Commerce for dinner. It was a casual place with numerous people of all ages eating there. The fare was local and steak hace was the star attraction - mince beef to you and me, together with a sauce if one's choice - for me Gorgonzola cheese. It was delicious and obviously a local favourite , judging by the plates on adjacent tables. My starter was a local delicacy - a country pate - two courses €18!  We had a BOTTLE of wine but the French are more abstemious and appeared to drink only a glass each. 

Today, we left the hotel and after a short stop to buy a map, which we forgot to pack, we drove to Caen!!! It was to be a 6 hour journey to Vichy. Just south of Caen we joined the motorway to Le Mans, thence to Tours, Bourges, Moulin and Vichy. We stopped for a quick lunch and later fir a cup of tea. As there are aire (rest stops) every 20 km) , some with services,  others with picnic tables and toilets, it is worth taking lunch and a flask as there  are long queues for food at the service stations, should you require some. 

The journey took us through Normandy, the flat, rich agricultural  Paris Basin, the scenic Loire Valley and the Massif Central - very diverse scenery. The motorways were for the most part surprisingly quiet and with speed limits of 130 km or 110 in rain,  we made great progress. The only annoyance was the lady on the Sat Nav whose pronunciation of French place names was woeful!! We bought this Sat Nav in Chicago prior to our departure on our Route 66 trip from Chicago to Santa Monica, California (I wasn't blogging then, so you're spared!!), where the route ends. We included in the purchase not only the US maps but the European maps also. What an error ! The Americans have their own pronunciation of the French language; not one anyEuropean would recognise, not to speak of the French!!

A new road, which led from the motorway exit to Vichy, confused the Sat Nav., but eventually it brought us to hotel Logis Midland. It is very old worldly and the reviews illustrate how it delights its guests, who return year after year.  The Logis is a group of French hotels but standards vary hugely. 

The journey had taken 7 hours including, a half hour stop for lunch and. 15 minute tea break - the heavy lifting is done til we make the return trip to Cherburg in a week' s time, laden with wine!! Toll charges €50.

We're now off out to see what delights Viichy has in store .....more tomorrow......