Mt. Biking - Saigneville to St Valery then steam train to Le Cr

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Forces-of-Nature » Personal Diaries » Mt. Biking - Saigneville to St Valery then steam train to Le Cr

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Owner: squiz
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Registered: 27-05-2007
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16th September 2015
Mt. Biking: Saigneville to St Valery then steam train to Le Cr
Wind Direction:
Wind Stength:
Surf / Sea State:
Air Temperature:
Sea Temperature:
Weather: light rain and cloud with sunny periods later.
Max Speed: 15.11 (knots - unless stated otherwise)
Distance Covered: 22.26 mile (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)

Wednesday 16th September – Mag’s Birthday :) - bike ***** Saigneville to St Valery then steam train to Le Crotoy and bike back to van! - 22.26 miles - 15.11kts max – light rain and cloud with sunny periods later.

As soon as we went to bed last night it started to rain, it stayed all night and we woke on Mag’s birthday to dark cloud and showers :( Our plan was to bike along the canal to St Valery to catch the steam train around the bay to Le Crotoy and back but by the time we had a nice lie in and a relaxing breakfast we had missed all the morning trains and it kept raining too! But with the afternoon train leaving at 2:30 we decided to take a chance with the weather, packed a picnic, put on our cagoules and headed down the canal the 4 miles to St Valery, sadly Mag’s bike computer played up and wouldn’t go:( she just loves to see how many miles she has done on her new bike. With only a couple of light showers en-route we arrived at the station with an hour to spare so we headed along St Valery’s lovely prom enjoying the scenery with the tide really high. We returned to the ticket office and decided to purchase a single, put our bike in a special carriage – free of charge :) – and then bike back from Le Crotoy. There is no platform here and I had to climb into the van to hang the bike on hooks, then up to the front to watch the engine arrive, watched by loads of people snapping away! We found a nice seat on the second carriage and were able to pull the large window right down for fantastic views:) dead on 2:30 the guard blew his whistle and we slowly pulled out of St Valery, in fact it was slow all the way! We then went outside as we passed the marina and over the bridge before returning back inside for a couple of delicious cheese and ham rolls. We then passed the best it of the trip, around the edge of the bay with sheep grazing on the salt marshes, several wild birds and loads of decoy pools complete with plastic ducks – they just love shooting things here in France!!! We even had a long conversation with an English couple in the seat behind us and she would frantically wave at every opportunity! There was a brief stop at Noyelles-sur-Mer - a passing place for the train coming from Le Crotoy and to move the engine to the other end of the train. We were now at the back of the train and continued through countryside to the station at Le Crotoy where we reclaimed the bikes and watched the engine fill up with water before heading into town, stopping at a supermarket for Mag’s birthday cakes:) We bike to the end of the prom where I windsurfed yesterday but no one out today and then back to the harbour for a snack and a cuppa. It was then on past the sluice, always windy here and around the etang to the bike track by the main road. The 7km section to St Valery was a struggle and my shoulder was hurting too but we made it to the bridge, then headed out on the spit opposite St Valery passing the steam train in the station about to start the last run of the day. We found a seat right at the end for a short rest watching the river rush out with birds everywhere including a group of egrets, we even spotted a seal :) All that was left was the 4 mile canal tow path section back to our parking place and although we had a great view of a kingfisher and marsh harrier I was pleased to see the van in the end being completely knackered! I collapsed in the van and put the kettle on while Mag disappeared along the tow path fixing her bike computer sensor with tape! We then had cake and a cuppa - delicious it was too – while enjoying the late evening sunshine with storks flying overhead for the second day running! A top top day and I Mag enjoyed her Birthday, she even had a card, several texts and best wishes messages on Facebook:) Tomorrow could be time to move on.

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