Finishing the GR21 – The Trek

Day 4: Veulettes-Sur -mer A Fécmp

Due to the weather, Fécmp’s walk felt a bit disappointing. I could still get some time to walk the beach and that was beautiful. But a thick fog to start the day along with the clouds in the morning later in the morning and stay for the rest of the day with shops on and off the atmosphere a bit. However, there were really great moments when I walked through a wind farm in the thick fog. The windmills slowly appeared as giant mechanical insects in the sky before seeing their base and that was crazy.

I was grateful that the rain waiting until later in the day since I got up at 5 and I could finish walking along the path for the day at 12:30. I ended up stopping in a coffee and waiting until 2 for my record to open at the hotel. The coffee was super pleasant and I had a help from friendly hikers to translate my cashier allergy to basically make sure to eat my order. After some walks along the road very long and a cloudy climate, it was very nice to receive help like this.

Once the 2 pm I reached, I ran to the hotel to register. Before arriving at the hotel, I stopped in a pharmacy to obtain some bands and shampoo and I also ended up buying these really interesting gel blister prevention pads that I wanted to try. Immediately when I entered my room, I left all my things and undressed to jump into the shower. He has never gotten into a bed after a shower felt so incredible. Although the environmental smell of the room was quite horrible taking into account how unpleasant my clothes was, but at that time I didn’t care.

Finally, I had to collect water again for the next day. Deciding to save my dinner on the last night, I went out to buy food. Just next to the Aldi, there was this industrial warehouse reused with a hamburger position within it. The space was really great because they had established a lot of seats, but it was also clear that the space was not only used to eat, but also only to stop, show movies and have a variety of entertainment. I always think it’s great to have community spaces where people can meet and enjoy other resources for entertainment. However, the hamburger I received from that position was probably one of the best I’ve had in Europe. The Americans make exceptional hamburgers, so I have always tended to buy what is more traditional where I have visited, and it could have been that I was starving, but this hamburger was really so juicy and rich that I could not believe that I was having it in France. Anyway, that is just to say that I was incredibly happy with my dinner choice and fell asleep quickly later in my beautiful hotel bed.

Day 5: Fécamp A Sainte-Marie-Au-Bosc

I retract my statement on the improved opinions from west to east, because this section had the best views of the cliffs and the field of the entire path so far. I started late because I wanted to allow myself to rest a little more on the bed, so I didn’t go on an excursion until 7. Regardless, I still had a good beach walking for me. Throughout this section of the path, there were even some waterfalls that sprouted from the cliffs. They were really great, but a little scary because I knew that if the water broke, the cliffs were certainly not incredibly resistant to those points. I just got back a little from the walls while walking and continued enjoying the views.

Finally, I was rolling again in the field. A few miles before Étretat, the path follows the rugs of the cliff and there are extensive views of the cliffs/beaches from above. The more progress, more sea batteries and sea arches appear. The path begins to be a bit more popular here, but it is not surprised, it is one of the easiest points to access on the path and one of the most beautiful.

Then I finally made the last cliff before Mething. The view of the city and the huge silhouette of the sea battery and the sea arch that is so linked to it appears in sight. I can say with confidence that it was one of the best things I’ve seen. He also felt very gratifying to get to the place that inspired the entire decision for the walk. I had heard of this walk after tripping with a photo of that stack and sea arch of a rotating desktop photo on my work computer. When I finally descended to the beach, I coined a few hours before returning to the road.

However, when I finally returned to the road, the day turned. I had become accustomed to doing around 1 during the last days to overcome heat, but it was around 2 when I returned to the route. It was so hot and the last 30 miles of path only pass through the field instead of following the coast. So I walked another pair of miles through burning heat and on rural roads and did not reach the camp until 4:30. Although it was in a bad mood, the camp was very nice and offered many comforts. It was directed by this older gentleman who owned the earth and, although he could literally understand anything he said, nor did he understand anything I said, we talked to each one as if we were having a complete conversation. After configuring my store, I relaxed and prepared to go to bed for my last night on the path!

Day 6: Sainte-Marie-Au-Bosc a LE HAVRE

This day was a work work. I knew that I was going to have additional miles for the fact due to the fact that my camp was about two miles from the city I wanted to reach because there were no camps available near there, or a short distance beyond him. But what I didn’t expect was how long I had really left and how long those miles felt.

Knowing that the rest of the path crossed the field, I was not too interested in stopping to see anything and woke up early to end the walk, eat and take my 5 PM train back to Paris. I started waking up at 5 in the morning and going up to the road just after six. Seeing the sun out slowly in the light sky, illuminating the fog that sank into the valleys was a really great way to start the day.

However, that was the only fun morning. The fog finally became so thick that I could only see 150 feet in any direction until 10:30 am now, that is not necessarily bad, since it kept me really great and very protected from the sun, but it meant that everything was so wet because of the crazy amount of humidity. I got more than when I walked down the coast and literally crossed the ocean water. The fact that I could not see anything also made me feel that it was a rat trapped in a maze because all the roads of the farm look very similar and, although fortunately I have the technology to keep myself on the right route, I wanted to see that I was really progressing. But that is what happens with hiking, sometimes you have to «hug the suction» as they say. Hugging the suction it was.

When the fog finally got up after he probably walked 11 miles, he was very happy. The second half of the day was much better after that. The fact that I could see was incredible, and I also began to go through areas that actually looked a lot like true paths instead of rural road walks. Even the outskirts of Le Havre had a really pleasant nature that was sweet to walk.

I took an hour of rest at 11 of the 11 when I was about 5 miles from the end. I was high, but I took my time to eat and drink a lot of water to make sure I was rested and ready to crush the remaining miles. I told them while I went and was very excited, but when I finally got at the end, I realized that there was no terminal. Not only did I realize that there was no terminal, but was not at the end of the walk. Alltrails had lied to me, and I really can blame myself for that. What is the saying? Inéname once, shame for you, fool myself for 45,629,561 times shame for me?

I enraged the last three miles, mostly because I had already walked more miles that I had the full trip (around 18-19) and now I had three more in the dense city to the train station until I finished. I managed to do it, and I really tried to be in a good mood about it, but when I arrived at the Train Station Collapsé in a waiting chair. I had not yet found the western term and started frantically to look for both in person and online where it was. After a minute or so, I stood up and left the front of the station and there it was.

After touching him to indicate the end of my walk, I felt that everything dissipated. Both my anger and my joy and every elevated feeling I felt. I felt more present at that moment than I think I had felt that whole path. It was this moment of lucidity reflecting on all those miles and, although I know that 110 miles does not hold a candle for many longer walks, it was crazy to think that he had done it. Then I just say there at the station. A stinky and hungry guy without address at this time that is not waiting. I did that for about 15 minutes before my parents and girlfriend know that I had completed the path. The celebration party of the french fries, a ham and cheese sandwich, and a fanta from the local grocery store felt incredible.

I am very proud of myself to finish. I definitely want to make another walk and write a publication about all the things I learned while reflecting on the GR21. But all that I have left is: Thank you GR21.

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