Une Petite Vacance En France (3)

Therein they find details of fares (UK operators please note), the full timetables and lots of other useful stuff. There is an excellent route map showing, fbb suspects, most stops. Here the Cherbourg end …

Of course there is a full timetable …

… from which we can glean that only a few buses run to Siouville; the majority terminating at “Flamanville”. The last common stop on the map is Hameau Bonnemains. 

It would appear that, once out in the sticks, information becomes somewhat UK-like with a lavish shelter and bus stop flag …

… plus a separate pole and second flag with limited information in display.

Included in the frame is a network map and (possibly) the timetable. 

The route splits at a roundabout just ahead.

fbb suspects that Streetview is not totally up to date, so we turn to Google Earth for an aerial view of the terminus of the main frequency that has forked left here,

It is a bit pixelated!

It’s a nuclear power station, innit. 

But don’t tell anyone – it isn’t really there. Well, it isn’t unless you find another aerial view …

… or what may well be an official drone view. This picture is on a Normandy tourist site …

…which also shows pictures of happy visitors enjoying the experience.

Odd, really, as it simply isn’t there! Maybe they caught a route B bus?

But Dave and Carrie had little interest in visiting a non existant pixelated power complex; they were making for the beach, and, in doing so, passing the bus stop called Flamanville Mairie.

It’s only  titchy village yet it has both a town hall (modest) …

… a maire (equally modest?) …

… and a modest row of little shops.

A little further on, route B makes it to Siouville which also has a little row of shops …

… and not much else. But it does have a beach.

And what a beach! It is a good place for surfers when the atlantic rollers roll although Dave and Carrie, as ferry foot passengers, had forgotten their belly-boards!

The bus does not penetrate the narrow main street with its throbbing cafe culture (there is just one!) but turns right to a terminus at (actually IN) the car park.

Note the full and helpful infromation available!

Why are the power station stops called “Flamanville” when they have absolutely no relationship with the little community with lits Mairie and little row of shops? Very misleading if you don’t know. Even Dave, when discussing his expedition on the telephone stated that most of the buses go to Flamanville.

WRONG! The only buses that go to Flamanville are the buses to Siouville and irs big beautiful beach plus big beautiful burger bistro.

Here is a map showing Flamanville itself.

The power station complex is to the west of the wider main “white” road. Streetview does not penetrate further than the fence …

… although bus B does so penetrate. The actual gubbins is at a lower level beyond the cliff edge; but, please remember, it isn’t there. And it certainly isn’t Flamanville!

And this stop, between Flamanville and Siouville …

… is called Dilette Gare Maritime.

There’s a road sign to confirm this appellation.

Google Translate confirms fbb’s view that it means something like Harbour Station. There is no railway! Neither can fbb find any signs of a closed line.

Confused.com?

But the view from the route B road is gorgeous.

That’s Siouville beach in the distance.