Further down the road in Normandy
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Here are a few apple related pictures taken during a cycle tour I made from Cherbourg to St Malo in
August/September 2004. I took the ferry out from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, cycled down stopping the
night at Briquebec, Coutances, the bay of Mt St Michel and a last night at St Malo before taking the St
Malo to Portsmouth ferry back again. I haven't tried to place the pictures on a map as these scenes
were very typical of the region.
This may take a minute to load as there are several pictures in the page.
Here are a few apple related pictures taken during a cycle tour I made from Cherbourg to St Malo in
August/September 2004. I took the ferry out from Portsmouth to Cherbourg, cycled down stopping the
night at Briquebec, Coutances, the bay of Mt St Michel and a last night at St Malo before taking the St
Malo to Portsmouth ferry back again. I haven't tried to place the pictures on a map as these scenes
were very typical of the region.
This interesting picture shows some branches being propped up to prevent them bending
over and perhaps breaking due to the weight of a heavy crop. This is a very sensible
thing to do if you have the time, we have had apple and particularly plum branches break
several times due to weight of crop and usually try to save the situation by cutting off
fruit-but then you get less fruit come harvest. I think this winter I am going to cut some
hazel sticks with forks in then and use them like this.
An equally amazing but more formal picture below shows an espalier pear planted
against a farmhouse wall.
over and perhaps breaking due to the weight of a heavy crop. This is a very sensible
thing to do if you have the time, we have had apple and particularly plum branches break
several times due to weight of crop and usually try to save the situation by cutting off
fruit-but then you get less fruit come harvest. I think this winter I am going to cut some
hazel sticks with forks in then and use them like this.
An equally amazing but more formal picture below shows an espalier pear planted
against a farmhouse wall.
There were several old stone apple mills being used as ornaments, of course the
French while celebrating their ancient traditions are modern wherever it suits them
and no doubt the apples are milled with modern stainless steel gear.
French while celebrating their ancient traditions are modern wherever it suits them
and no doubt the apples are milled with modern stainless steel gear.
It was never far from one orchard to the next, hence my recommendation to visit Normandy
in apple blossom time-no use bothering with Kent as they have lost so many orchards, but
here in Normandy they love and use them. I drank cider at every meal, never came across
the same brand twice, and never had any that I didn't enjoy, one or 2 were only average but
most were delightful. There is clearly a lively tradition of making and using cider which is of
course the best way to preserve the orchards and make sure new ones are established.
I don't think I saw a large orchard, or cycled more than a kilometre without seeing a small
one. I stopped somewhere on the road at a Routiers, and had one of the biggest, cheapest
meals of my life. Everyone was drinking cider, except for one table. They were drinking
Champagne! As well as small orchards, there were remnant of orchards where most of the
trees had been lost, leaving a few venerable old pommiers, often leaning over at funny old
angles but still bearing. Most of the fruits were very small, typical of the cider fruit of this
region. Don't ask me any variety names!
After a tricky time of negotiating a main road and severe hill, I made it across Avranches,
and had a marvellous downhill swoop on my bicycle towards the bay of St Malo, I wish I had
taken more photos from one particular viewpoint but I was cycling downhill too fast to stop.
Another day maybe.
return to main menu
Click here for more pics from this cycle tour
in apple blossom time-no use bothering with Kent as they have lost so many orchards, but
here in Normandy they love and use them. I drank cider at every meal, never came across
the same brand twice, and never had any that I didn't enjoy, one or 2 were only average but
most were delightful. There is clearly a lively tradition of making and using cider which is of
course the best way to preserve the orchards and make sure new ones are established.
I don't think I saw a large orchard, or cycled more than a kilometre without seeing a small
one. I stopped somewhere on the road at a Routiers, and had one of the biggest, cheapest
meals of my life. Everyone was drinking cider, except for one table. They were drinking
Champagne! As well as small orchards, there were remnant of orchards where most of the
trees had been lost, leaving a few venerable old pommiers, often leaning over at funny old
angles but still bearing. Most of the fruits were very small, typical of the cider fruit of this
region. Don't ask me any variety names!
After a tricky time of negotiating a main road and severe hill, I made it across Avranches,
and had a marvellous downhill swoop on my bicycle towards the bay of St Malo, I wish I had
taken more photos from one particular viewpoint but I was cycling downhill too fast to stop.
Another day maybe.
return to main menu
Click here for more pics from this cycle tour
