History that comes alive, picturesque coastal villages, French food and wine, flowers, happy surprises, rewarding and challenging bicycling, good company and excellent support: sound interesting? From a bicycle seat or the comfort of your favorite armchair, we invite you to share our ride through Normandy and France.

The trip begins in Bayeux near the Normandy coast. This is the home of William the Bastard who became William the Conqueror and king of England after the battle of Hastings in 1066. The story is brought to life in the local museum by a combination of a tapestry that was embroidered shortly after the battle and a recorded narrative that come together to provide a bit of background and then the rousing battle that leads to William's conquest. It is a near-perfect equivalent of a 1,000 year old movie in color and sound. We never expected an English history lesson in France.

William's brother, Odo, was Bishop of Bayeux and built the Cathedral that is a center piece for the city. We can see the towering spires of the Cathedral from the entrance to the chateaux that will be our starting point to explore the area for the next two days.

The next morning we bike out of town through a series of small streets that give us a sense of life in Bayeaux and then head out across the countryside. Our first stop is a small shop that makes umbrellas. They will make one to your size and selection of components in an hour and a half or they will send you one of your own special design. "Special" can even include an image from your favorite photograph on the cover of the umbrella.

Our next stop is Chateaux Fontaine-Henry which a classic Normandy chateaux that was built in the 14^th century. It has been in the same family since it was built. The lady of the house gives us a private tour including some of her personal experiences in the history of the chateaux, some of its antiques and beautiful artwork. Our tour guides have put together a pique-nique on the lawn of the chateaux that includes cheese, breads, pickles and other specialties from the area.

After lunch we bike to Arromanches and our first encounter with the WWII Normandy invasion. There were two artificial ports built to support the landing; small parts of the port are still visible. Most of the supplies for the Allied Forces movement off the beaches into France came through Arromanches. A museum with displays and movies gives us as introduction to the scale and complexity of the landing.

We bike back to our chateaux in Bayeaux, have a pot of tea with beautiful cookies, a quick shower and then walk to town for a dinner of local fare and wine in a small French bistro.

Photos of our Normandy/Brittany trip