We woke to another day in paradise and had wonderful breakfast at 8:30am. We even got to sleep in this morning.

Plenty to eat!

Now that is a BIG fireplace!

Kim had her nails and toes done last night just for the ride to the market today!

Wendy making a new friend.

We would roll out after the morning meeting heading to the local market where Adele would purchase goodies for a picnic she and Luc would prepare for us today.

Riding through the hedgerows where many battles were fought during WWII.

The French version of the Cleaver house. Expected to see the Beaver come running down to great us.

Everything you needed, and more, could be found at the market.

This mother of three was at the wearing high heels. Tres chic!

One of there purchases was a laying hen that would eventually produce over 300 eggs . . . then into the soup pot for her!

Bill and Kim purchase a belt at the market.

Happy vacationers!

Lots of fresh produce . . .

Luc explains the Normandy apple varieties . . .

Juicy . . .

9:00am . . . never too early for a sample of Calvados!!!!

Seems like wherever you go in the world mattresses are ALWAYS on sale!!! Does anyone ever pay full price?

We need fresh meat and fish mongers like this at the MSN market.

Fresh flounder.

Lots of food carts/trucks . . .

. . .including Eric’s that had a real wood burning stove built into the corner that was burning logs down to coals.

One could stop by and leave your order to be pick up later. Nice!

From the market we pedaled on to our lunch spot an apple/cider/distillery! PERFECT for the msc!!!

Luc and Adele have a roadside conference.

emJay makes a new friend, El Burro

At another preverbal ‘fork in the road’. Only missed two turns today!

The owner made apple cider, hard cider and Calvados and explained the whole process, from picking the apples to bottling the final products.

The final product . . .

. . .let’s taste it!

The horror, the horror . . .

Somebody had a little too much . . . .

We could get used to this.

Of course . . . then there was time for a tasting all three before we munched down a HUGE lunch.

Many laid out on our in the sun on our backs for a while to let everything settle a bit

After lunch, slave mistress Adele got the girls, and Fernando, on the grass to do a few yoga and Pilates moves.

and. . emJay makes a new friend!!!

Then . . . we headed back through the French countryside to our hotel.

A field full of leaks.

Some had not had enough riding and Luc took a big group on an additional ride down to the sea where it was low tide.

With a little free time before dinner . . . some decided to play bocce ball . . .

Some decided to start happy hour . . .

And some decided to head to the kitchen. I was all over making the shortbreads for the appetizers.

With Chef Mike.

Shortbread with salmon

Roasted Guinea Hen with salad and a potato gallete . . .

Followed by NO calories . . .

Followed by dreams of sugar plum fairies dancing in my head!