Portland, UK
It was my last day on board of “The Norwegian Jade”. I was required to leave before 4 pm. At 6 pm the ship was departing for the final destination, Southampton, UK.
The first stage of my 2018 trip was over. It went very well, I could not wish for a better way to spend those 12 days at sea. Now an unchartered territory lay ahead. I was free to go in any direction; nobody waited for me anywhere; no hotel was booked in advance.
My intention was to cross Europe from west to east with one exception. I wanted to visit Mont Saint-Michel Abbey near St. Malo in France. It stands on an island in the bay. During high tides, the entire complex with its fortifications is surrounded by deep water, up to 12 m (over 30’). When the tide is low it is possible to walk from the shore to the Abbey. Saint-Malo is south-west from Le Havre, i.e. not in the direction of my journey, but I decided that this detour was worth the time. Photos of this magnificent medieval monastery fascinated me.
While at home, I tried to make my approximate route more detailed, similar to how I planned my European trip last year. I looked at several cities that interested me and at dozens of online schedules of trains and buses that connect these cities. This time, there were too many factors to consider and too many uncertainties which made this task impossible. French rail workers began 3 months of rolling strikes. It was unclear what trains ran and what did not. What if I missed a bus in one place and could not make a connection? In the end, I only planned the leg from Le Havre to St. Malo. All my next stops and means of getting to them would be decided on the go.
“The Norwegian Jade” docked in Le Havre early in the morning. I waited until most passengers left the ship and went to find the bus station. My plan was to take the bus to Caen because no railroad exists there and then two trains to reach St. Malo. The schedule showed 3 buses to Caen: morning, afternoon and late afternoon. I bought a ticket for a 2.30 pm bus which gave me enough time to get to St. Malo before the nightfall assuming that the trains were running, returned to the ship and had a hearty lunch, got my backpack from the cabin and my passport at the customer service desk.
It was time to say goodbye to the ship that provided the roof over my head, food 24 hours a day and the company of my new friends. From now on, I was on my own. I stepped on the shore and cut the cord.
Le Havre – Cherbourg
You got it! I was torn between two desires: to stay and to set out to explore.
The ship looks magnificent! You have probably felt sorry to leave it. But then, the whole continent was there waiting to be discovered! And it is interesting to know how it went further on from that point;)