A lie in! Up at 7am for a 7.30am breakfast. The pull back of the bedroom blinds revealed another dry start with good patches of blue sky and over the day the weather improved to provide another great cycling day.
Lovely continental breakfast and then away at around 8.45am for leg 1 - in the saddle Mike, Neil, Nick and Lyn with Chris driving and sourcing picnic supplies. Leg 1 introduced the team for the first time to the Loire River with a spell of cycling close to the river. At one point the team lost tarmac and found themselves cycling 'offroad' on road bikes - not ideal! A good leg of 55kms and a well earned coffee and bun stop at Le Louroux-Beconnais.
In the saddle for leg 2 were Chris, Mike, Neil and Lyn with Nick hunting out a picnic spot at our destination of Valanjou. This leg took us across the Loire River twice and we hugged the river for a good chunk of the leg. Although our weather has been good there has been some really bad rain in other parts of France which is impacting the Loire river level which was very high with some flooded areas. Along the banks of the Loire we bumped into a nice English couple from Buckinghamshire who are just starting a 3 month tour of France - we would have added a picture but he was shirtless and had a very large tummy so thought better of it. Arrived at Valanjou for lunch at 1.30pm and had a lovely picnic - Nick excelling in locating a bench, meadow and pond - perfect setting.
In the saddle for the final leg were Chris, Nick, Lyn and Mike - a sensible pace throughout with the occasional stop for silly pictures. A nasty little climb into our destination for the night at Bressuire qualified us for a couple of immediate bottles of Leffe which certainly seemed to refresh the parts that other beers don't.
Other random thoughts along the way today and among conversation over evening dinner:
- Bike Sat Navs are great for guiding you along your route for the day BUT....
One of the benefits of a map is that you get a breather to work out your next move - Lots of fauna (see Neils Fauna Corner pictures below). Are there any flowers that Neil does not know?
- There seem to be more tractors in France than cars
- Lyn is 'king of the mountains' taking any of the other riders when he fancies it but the worn back of his cycling shorts is exposing just a little to much flesh - is he doing this deliberately to put off the other riders from following him!
- Did the French steal bluebells from the UK - must take Neil's view tomorrow
- Mounting a cow with cleats on is not advisable
- It's amazing how much noise a group of frogs make in a pond
Seriously though, a great cycling day in the Pays de la Loire region in lovely warm sunshine - another 155kms under our belts. Below are just a few of the picture taken today.
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| Our 1st night hotel - Jardin Des Arts, Chateau Gontier |
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| Garden of hotel Jardin Des Arts |
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| Getting ready for the off on day 2 |
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| The all important drink supplements Careful - there could be a dope test |
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| We even had a peacock cheering us on! |
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| Quick breather at 1st leg halfway point |
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| Coffee stop at Louroux-Becconais |
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| Halfway point on leg 2 |
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| Bridge over Loire River |
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| On the banks of the Loire River |
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| Great picnic spot at Valanjou |
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| Mike returning from a call of nature in the caravan park |
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| Halfway point on leg 3 |
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| Is Neil waiting or wasted! |
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| Le Peleton |
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| Come on, share the joke |
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| Another bust French road |
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| Less than 10kms to go to Bressuire, our 2nd night hotel stop |
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| It may just be a tractor, but did you know that tractors out number cars in France |
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| A gassy afternoon for Nick |
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| You hold his left horn Lyn and I'll hold the right |
Fauna corner - Neil knows
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| The French Wisteria is at least 3 weeks ahead of the UK |
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| Wild Orchid |
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| There is one flower that Neil doesn't know! Can anyone help to name this one? |
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| Halfway point on 1st leg |
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