Camping La Chevrette, Digoin

Before we begin, just wanted to tell you all this is our 550th blog. Whether you've been following us from the beginning or have just stumbled across us, thanks for reading. Here's to another 550!

We were first away this morning, up just as the sun rose. We had to beat the heat. It was starting to become a problem. As we trundled along a quiet country road the fresh morning air flowed over our bodies. A herd of Charolais turned to stare at us. Their calves unerved by the brightness of our high viz waistcoats hid behind their mothers. The trees that lined the roadside cast welcome shadows. But all was to change once we reached the canal. As always the sun was on us, the shade on the opposite bank. We pedalled at a steady pace keen to bank as many miles as possible before lunchtime. We cycled this path last year and are saddened that we have not been able to socialize with fellow riders night after night as we did then. There seems to be less cyclists on the road this year and many of them are on electric bikes so we're unlikely to catch up with them. Saying that the couple next to us on e-bikes were at last night's campsite. They seemed shocked we were already here when they arrived using just pedal power. No surprise, we didn't follow the official route up over the hills, but cut across by road. We're not letting on. Let them think we're super fit English. And we'd stopped for over two hours at lunchtime. Remember the hare and the tortoise?

The campsite at Digoin is next to a boating lake. Two boats, the blue team and red team jousted from them. We'd never seen the likes of it. Obviously it's a big thing here. Another balmy evening, but we are spoilt by a cooling breeze that blows off the river Loire behind our tent. The downside the mosquitoes are out in force. Yet another night of scratching ahead. Down in the town on the waterfront there is easy listening music being played by an orchestra. Hopefully it will lull us to sleep, or the tempo may be upped around ten and the all to common bassy music of a Saturday night in France will vibrate through our tent. Let's hope not. In the meantime we will enjoy our cold beers (0.0% alcohol Leffe lager on sale in the campsite shop a real treat for John), and listen to the music, at this moment in time a beautiful clarinet solo.