Cunault

Yesterday evening, about ten o' clock, we walked back into the town, where the performers of the travelling comedy theatre were in full swing.

A few years ago, we had seen a similar production staged next to the chateau at Clisson. The French love to perform, but whenever we see them doing so, we always think they come across a little camp, and a little like the seventies English television comedy 'Allo Allo'. You are almost expecting them to come out with the lines, "where are the British airmen?'. "They are in ze wardrobe, in ze bedroom of my wife's mother!'

Walking back to the van, we stopped to photograph the chateau, which was now lit up. The night air was still stifling, so we shut all Marge's windows and doors, to keep out the mosquitoes and midges, and sat under a nearby light on our outdoor chairs, reading until midnight.

This morning there was a noticeable change in the weather. A lot cooler and fresher.

Behind us was a stunning private garden, and we commented on how lucky we were, to be able to enjoy it through the rear open doors of the van.

After breakfast, we took a walk to the nearby market, where, as at all French markets, there was an abundance of fruit and vegetables, meats, cheese, bread, olives etc.

Also bedding plants and herbs.

We smiled at the characters we saw in the crowds, an elderly gentleman, showing how to model socks and sandals really badly, and a tall man, wearing black riding? boots, with black shorts.

Along one of the side streets a young couple were busking, their young daughter bored in her pushchair, as her parents gave their all, to a rendition of Mary Hopkins, Those Were The Days. We gave them ten out of ten, for the energy they put into their performance.

When we left Langeais, the sky was a little grey, and a few spots of rain splashed onto the windscreen, but came to nothing. Our journey took us along the road past some troglodytes dwellings.

Even though we have seen them a few times before, we once again stopped, to take a look around. They are situated along the Loire cycle route, and one of the caves houses charging points for the electric bikes, toilets, picnic table, and a outdoor pizza oven/barbecue.

Just before we stopped here, we took the opportunity to photograph Angela, collecting this weeks wine allowance!

The heat built again during the afternoon. 30c, much more bearable. Tonight we are staying at a former campsite, just past Samur. Next to us is the flood plain for the river. Quite a lot of campsites have closed near to the river, and a few are now aires. This evening, we will take a walk across the plain to look at the river.

Tomorrow, we will have just nine days left until we return home, so we need to plan our route back up to the north coast. Since we left home, we have traveled just under four thousand, eventful, miles!

Langeais

To try and cool off, yesterday evening, Angela took a walk up to the bank of the river. On one of the small islands in front of the bridge, two men were stood in a small boat fishing. The vapour trails above, the white in a strawberry and cream twilight sky.

This morning we drove across the bridge to Chaumont-sur-Loire, where we had knowledge of a tap. Once again we could fill our water tank. After sorting Marge, we parked her down by the river, and took a walk along the High Street, passing under a cool mist of water being emitted from a goats cheese shop.

We thanked the owner for this momentary relief from the heat, and walked on towards the chateau, passing the traditional Loire fishing boats, one which had just been cleaned in readiness for its next guest.

Our uphill walk to the chateau was tiring and fruitless, as there was no view, the chateau obscured by trees.

On the downhill walk back to Marge, we saw a large toad at the side of the road, bloated, but sadly dead, only a few more feet, and it would have made it into the coolness of the hedge alongside the path.

Back at the van, we watched the canoeists on the river, totally exposed. We hoped they had, had, the good sense to apply lots of sunscreen, and wear sunhats. Before long, they had found the shade of the nearby bridge. We thought it was madness, that the canoe hire company had let them come out in such extreme heat. But that's business for you!

Before we set off, we photographed the chateau. If only we'd realised the viewpoint from the side of the river, rather than close to, was the better photograph.

Our next stop was to be Amboise. We'd camped on the island here, when we cycled the Loire. The chateau, is on the opposite bank. The aire was a little out of town, and not very pleasant, so after lunch, we decided to move further along, but the next air was totally exposed, with no shade at all, so we set off again. We took the ring road around Tours, the tarmac on the road melting so much, you could hear and feel the tyres sticking to it. On the outskirts of Tours, we suddenly both caught the strong aroma of the chemical we use in our toilet, so hastily pulled over. As we thought, the heat had forced the lid from the container, which was not good, beside the smell, the liquid stains blue anything it comes into contact with, including John's hand!

Tonight's stop is at Langeais, right next to the chateau. We were the first van to arrive, so took the end spot, where we would be able to wind out our sun awning, something you're not supposed to do on the aires, but the French flout this, and as we considered the heat to be an exceptional circumstances, we rebelled as well.

Late this afternoon, we walked to the chateau to take a look.

In the covered square, a rehearsal was taking place for tonight's performance of 'Le Mome Chair de Poule', a comedy musical. The title translates to, something to do with chicken meat. Tonight, is the first night for this travelling theatre, they will appear all around the area until the end of August. In the intense heat, the stage was being assembled, whilst one of the cast went through his songs, accompanied by a man on an accordion. The heat one again taking its toll, we walked back to the van.

The temperature in the shade at 6pm registering at 40c, the temperature in Marge, despite all her windows and doors open is 46c!

Tomorrow we must find an aire among the trees. We are drinking copious amounts of water each day, but are now starting to suffer a little. Thankfully this evening, a breeze has picked up. Hopefully, the air will feel more comfortable later, and we'll be able to walk back into town to listen to the musical comedy performance.

Onzain

Yesterday evening, we all enjoyed a breeze, we thought would never again feel. Until midnight, most of the van owners were sat outside. Unfortunately, the evening was ruined, by half a dozen youngsters sat on the sports area behind us all. Their noise disturbing everyone until one o' clock this morning. Luckily, we had parked Marge on the far side of the parking, so were spared the worst of it.

This morning the start to the day felt a little fresher, but by mid morning the heat had started to build. The other English van left, why anyone would want a van about thirty feet long, larger than a mobile library, we couldn't understand. But for the man driving it, wearing a T-shirt that didn't cover his stomach fully, (the expression we use, is, 'he's wearing Baby Gap clothes'). To him, size obviously mattered, except in his wardrobe. We know how difficult it is to squeeze our Marge into some towns and villages, but at least we have, had the chance to view some wonderful places, which he will never will.

Whilst we discussed our plans for the day, a young chaffinch, pecked around the ground near Marge, looking for a few crumbs, that may have been left by the van owners. We always comment that, it must be a hard life, trying to survive, for a bird.

Late morning, we set off on our bikes along the cycleway to the next town, Beaugency.

Part way there we found a bar, restaurant and stage had been set up in the woods, and was proving popular. It was quite hot, but we hoped we would be cycling among the trees, but it turned out not for long.

Arriving at our destination, we were saddened to see the aire right beside the river was closed. The reason, falling branches from the canopy of the trees overhead. On our return to Marge, we met a family travelling towards us, the mother lagging quite a way behind, with a look on her face that said, "whose idea was this holiday, I hate cycling, why can't I have an electric bike?"

Our cycle out may have been a little ambitious in the heat. Angela's heart was racing on our return. But a sit down, and plenty of water soon settled it. John experienced an uncomfortable feeling later in the day. We think this exceptional heat perhaps deserves more consideration than we are giving it.

After lunch, we walked in the town of Meung-Sur-Loire, visiting the church, always guaranteed to be nice and cool inside. Then onto the chateau. Whilst we were out, we were conscious to try and walk in the shade as much as possible. We had seen on the Internet, that the temperature in France topped 45.9c today. Tomorrow in our area it will be 40c, and then next week dropping into the chilly 30's. So, family at home, enjoy you weather tomorrow, we could to with a temperature here of 31c!

A nice surprise early this evening, a video call from Angela's son Chris, his wife Kirsty, and grandson Elliot. Chris looked a little peaky after his spell in hospital, and is still not at work. It was lovely to see and speak to them, but little Elliot did not seem to recognise us. Must be the orange skin tone we've adopted, we are looking a little like 'oompa loompa's'!

We have only moved a little way along the Loire, originally planning to stay overnight at Blois. But forgetting the size of the town, we opted to move to a quiet aire, alongside the river at Onzain.

On the opposite bank, we can see the chateau Chaumont-Sur-Loire. Outside the entrance to the aire, are a few grapevines, with some excellent metalwork sculptures, depicting the pruning and harvesting, of the grapes. Opposite us, is an allotment, with a white plastic garden chair, we wonder will a lady of ill repute appear? No, just an elderly gentleman with a long hose!

The breeze we enjoyed yesterday evening is long gone. Once again it is hot and sultry. Rather than just one of us, we are both glowing. We were able to afford the luxury of eating our evening meal in the shade of the trees, sat at one of the picnic benches.

Just before our dinner, a man drove in with in his 'open top tourer', an old Jaguar, with his Thai wife sat beside him. He was what we deemed 'as a silly old b'. His car was registered German, but was right hand drive. He'd obviously bought his car from England, and his wife from Thailand! She nimbly alighted from the car, he struggling and puffing to exit his totally unsuitable car for a man of his age!

This evening, whilst typing this blog, the French couple in the van next to us, have turned their television bracket so they can watch the ladies world cup match, France v America outside. which we are fine with, as we can watch it as well through our side window.

We would like the final to be France v England, as we have been in France before when France have played England, and the atmosphere has been fantastic.

Tomorrow, we will move a little further along the river. After travelling so many miles, we are enjoying being back on familiar territory, with no need to rush. The adventure is done, this is the holiday.

(Unfortunately USA knocked out France, we were hoping for an England - France final to watch in a bar two days before we return home).