Saumur

Our alarm was set for seven this morning in order to dry out our tent and leave as early as possible. The morning cycle took us across open countryside and along the river Loire where we passed the time of day with many other cyclists. The French speak English to us now we're not in Marge. What's that all about? As usual their favourite subject is Brexit! Fuelled by yet more bread and cheese we cycled thirty one and a half miles today and tonight our campsite has four stars. There is a fantastic view across to the chateau. The temperature hit 28c today and the sun shone. What a difference a day makes.

Les Ponts - de - Ce (near Anger)

By the end of the day we'd got wet three times. Was this trip a good idea? Yes, we must be mad! Moral, was low, and we'd had to break out the emergency jelly babies. As we arrived at last nights campsite the storm was unrelenting and we had nowhere to shelter, until John noticed a small covered seating area near to the children's clubhouse. That'll do us. Eventually the weather broke, tent up, wet clothes in a tumble dryer and a hot meal inside us restored our faith in cycle camping.

Saint - Florent - Le - Vieil

 

Today ended well. Our 2 star campsite, twelve euros for the night with hot showers was just the job and to top it all the pizza van arrived just after us. The rest of the day however, was eventful. It was late morning before we left, there was no rush, we needed to ease ourselves in. The rain of the night long gone had given way to yet another hot, humid day. Drink plenty was our advice to each other. Stopping to photograph some sweet smelling cows, their look telling us they'd grown tired of the intrusion we pedalled on. The river Loire looked tired, devoid of water in places, its landscape as never seen before. Country lanes gave welcome shade and then a call from home regarding the remortgages of some of our rental properties during which John's bike fell on him, the chain ring cutting into the back of his ankle, quite deeply. Oil found its way into the wound, so Angela applied first aid then John decided some methylated spirit (which we use in our little cooker) would clean the cut. He is now sporting a large dressing and we will monitor over the next couple of days. Day three of our journey, and drama already.

Sainte - Luce - sur - Loire (near Nantes)

Before leaving the campsite at Cherbourg we needed to contact Vodafone to find out why our roaming package was not working. How reliant have we become on technology? Back in the 1960's the renowned travel writer and cyclist Dervla Murphy travelled through Asia using local maps, local knowledge and armed with a revolver. Oh no! Who was supposed to pack the revolver? Today's travelling involved three trains. No stress then. But god was with us, and despite the journey to Nantes taking around seven hours it passed without any drama. Needless to say, we were glad to arrive at a campsite just outside the city by 8 pm. Tomorrow, is all about cycling. We can't wait.

Cherbourg

Oh Marge, we're missing you already! Yesterday we were described as mad, setting off on bikes with a small tent at our age!! It's been five years since we last cycled and toured. We've just 25 miles under our belt of practice for this trip. We are cycling Eurovelo 6 hoping to at least reach the border with Switzerland. We've waited two and a half years for this, delayed by covid, this is Angela's 60th birthday treat! Our first hurdle was overcame, we managed to cycle up the loading ramp onto the car ferry. All downhill from now, hopefully. 

Poole

We awoke in Devizes to the early morning sun filtering through the trees. Today we must go home Marge, you're booked into the body shop on Monday for some cosmetic work. We were sad to be returning home. We'd enjoyed our Welsh road trip. Our overnight stays had cost just twenty-three pounds, and that included splashing out fifteen pounds to stay in David's field at Rhossili. When we're at home, we wish we were on an adventure in Marge. So, when we take her back, we will address all the little niggles she's thrown up along the way. New pump in washer bottle, sort out leaking sink and a few other problems. 

Our journey home was via Andover so Angela could lay flowers on her parents' grave. The colour from the flowers in the graveyard bright and vibrant against the exhausted grass. Then Salisbury where we queued for a while on the ring road whilst taking in the view of the cathedral, looking good from its ongoing restoration work.

Delaying our return home and also wanting to allow the holiday traffic to travel through we decided to stop for lunch in the New Forest just outside Lyndhurst.

 Angela, who should have known better having ended up in hospital many years ago after being kicked by one of the ponies, shook out a bread bag. Oh dear, not a good idea. Sorry Marge, we think the pony's taken a fancy to you. Shoo it away! Panic over we sat in the shade of the tree and ate lunch whilst keeping an eye out. 

John's mobile rang, 'Can I come and stay with you at the seaside', or words to that effect. Our grandson Elliot, soon to be four was keen to come down for yet another holiday. Come soon, we'll be off on our travels again at the end of the month! Now coming home doesn't feel so bad.