Camping de la Lanciere, Chatillon-Coligny

Despite retiring to bed around nine last night, we were kept awake until one in the morning by loud bassy music and shouting from the nearby sports hall where a party was obviously being held. So we struggled to be up and away this morning at a reasonable time. Today being Sunday, and us being beside a canal where shops to buy food from are limited and expensive we resorted to purchasing two containers of vegetable cous cous, some tuna, a melon and two litres of fruit squash to replace that we had already drunk. The official holiday season has come to an end now, and there are very few people about. A few walkers and parents teaching children to ride bikes. Not sure alongside the canal is the right place for this activity. A few days ago we stopped at a community run bike place where the car park had been painted to resemble a minute road layout. We were told the lessons given there were not just for children, but adults as well. So dust off your passport Chris Webb we've booked you in! Despite the debilitating heat we pressed on, stopping regularly to rest, take in fluid and snack.

With each mile that passed we neared the end of the canal Briare. Our bicycle tyres disintegrated the crisp brown leaves that carpeted the towpath, a sign of an approaching change of season. Tonight's campsite, right on the euro velo 3 route is run by the town and despite the sanitaires being a little dated it is clean and serviceable.

We are the only tent here, but everyone is friendly and it feels safe and quiet. Today we have pedalled our way over forty miles of gravel and tarmac. Almost given upon the heat and wished we had electric bikes. On the plus side we are ahead of our schedule and will be in the Loire tomorrow.