Yet another rainy start but drier by the time we leave to continue sections of a Back Roads route.
Once we leave the village we are on a massive, flat grassy plain. At times the road feels like an airbase, as the curves are hidden tarmac but distant straights appear as runways. Approaching Les Andeleys we drop through steep turns down to the town centre which is busy as it it market day. Car parking has no rules on market day with vehicles at all angles across pavements as people pull in for a few groceries.
Climbing out of town is as winding and steep as the approach and on one bend traffic is being directed by a yellow clad workman. Police and Pompiers are attending to an upturned VSP [Vehicle Sans Permit - flimsy microcars, Aixim and the like, that can be driven with no licence, once driven only by farmers and pensioners they are now also a tactical deception for drivers who have been banned e.g. for drink-driving].
We continue to Ecouis through thick woodland of the Foret Domainale de Lyons, once royal hunting grounds, to the town of Lyons la Foret.
It’s a beautiful little town with terraces of ornate and colourful timber houses or stone maisons and chateau. The market fills the little central square which is beside the timber pillared wash house. We discover there is an aire in the town which we note for a future and longer visit.
With the sun now out we continue on back roads through Le Tronquay, La Feuille, La Haye and on to Chateau Vascoueil where we stop to peer at the chateau through its closed gates. We refuel at the supermarket in Perriers sur Ardelle then take a remote and narrow cross country ride to Buchy but when we find the aire we realise the photo did it more justice than it deserves. On top of that the funfair is in town so the aire has been commandeered by their vehicles.
Having no plan is sometimes a gamble, so we always have a Plan B… France Passion has a few choices close by, we choose Ferme des la Canards at Yquebeuf only 6 miles away.
We are a hundred yards down an unmade road when the satnav tells us we have reached our destination but it is another 50 odd yards to the unmarked gate where we turn back on the track behind the hedge and arrive in the farm yard.
The cheery farmer welcomes us and says he is pleased to have les visiteurs Anglais and gives us a cartoon postcard of the ‘Norman Island’ depicting the pride the people have of their region. We are parked in a truly beautiful spot; beside a blossoming cherry tree surrounded with daffodils right beside the fenced paddock full of sheep and lambs which gambol about and do the lovely springing off all four legs. Nearby is the large Norman timbered farmhouse and across the paddock is another house under renovation.
There is no sign of the ducks in the farm’s name but we are able to buy duck breast and terrine.
This whole area is new to us and we are really enjoying getting familiar with yet another part of France.