Bragny-sur-Saone

The campsite reception was closed when we arrived last night as it was when we left this morning. Nothing to pay then! Last night had been cold, very cold. The young French couple we have spent a few nights with suffered as well and told us there was a Decathlon sports shop along today's route. We decided to find it to buy a sleeping bag, inner. The town was large and we cycled miles of our route buying another thinner sleeping bag we could use as a quilt if necessary. Our cycle took us along the canal, through open countryside and alongside the pretty river Saone, which is where we are staying. The campsite is very basic, on the internet the facilities are described as medieval! Saturday night, and the pizza van was in town. Result.

Chagny

Again Angela had a flat tyre this morning. but luck was on our side, a bike shop appeared just as we set off along the cycle way. Today we were going to try and cycle the fifty five miles to the next campsite. The cycle took us alongside the canal and then onto some roads. It was hard going and Angela's tyre deflated so John changed the inner tube. At just after six last night we arrived at the campsite at Chagny. Angela set off into town for shopping and came off her bike as she left the road to cycle on the pavement to allow a car to come through. Ouch! And that was just her bike. Very shaken she returned to John. What a day.

Paray-le-Monial

The day dawned dry. Angela's rear tyre was flat. Not a good start. John had had trouble removing the dust cap from the valve yesterday evening when he went to pump the tyre up. He cycled up the hill to the town, stopped at a supermarket and sought out the local bicycle repair man who was on holiday. We decided to give up on the valve and buy a new inner tube from the supermarket, but a size 24 is not easily available which is why we had no spare one with us. Long story, short. The inner tube turned out to be punctured! Our Swiss companion Rita, age confirmed as seventy had been completely washed out last night and had slept in the communal room. Luckily the sun came out and she was able to dry everything before setting off. At lunchtime we stopped to eat lunch with her at a lock on the canal. The lock keeper brought us out tomatoes from his garden and boiled eggs. The kindness of strangers. Tonight's four star, expensive campsite is a rip off. The swimming pool was closed, water was barely warm in the showers and we were overcharged. Oh well sometimes you win, others you lose.

Bourbon Lancy

Last night passed quietly with no more rain. We were up at seven and away by nine. The cycle started well alongside the canal, then into the open countryside passing fields of contented Charolais cows who stopped to stare at us.At lunchtime, we stopped alongside the Loire river, the sun was out and we were able to dry our tent. It was hot, 31c, but we could see the storm clouds gathering. The route took us up some very steep hills, most of which we managed to cycle, something we would not have been able to do two weeks ago. All the time the thunder rumbled around us. Even though the going was tough we kept going. We have to, our bicycles are our transport, our legs our power.  Late afternoon we arrived in the town of Bourbon-Lancy. We'd made it. What a day. The young french couple from last night, were already on the campsite, and the Swiss lady arrived an hour after us. Then the weather changed. What a storm. We were all grateful for the communal room with television, kitchen facilities, and comfortable seating. After a night's rest we all say. Bring on tomorrow.

Decize

Last night was very warm, and this morning it took very little time to dry our tent. Today was once again forecast to be very warm so we planned to cycle just twenty-five miles along the canal lateral a'Loire. Before leaving Never's we took advantage of the free coffee on offer which we drank whilst taking in the view of the city. The cycle along the canal was fungi heaven for John. He was allowed to look, but forbidden by Angela to take any to eat. The canal cycle allowed us to take in the wildlife and dry our washing at one of our stops. At Decize we met up with some of our fellow travellers from Never's last night, including our Swiss friend. We all pitched our small tents close to the communal room as a storm is expected to night. We spent a pleasant evening eating and talking with our fellow cyclists. English, French, Swiss, German, American, our different languages did not impede us sharing stories, experiences and advice. We have missed the social side of these cycling trips, you just don't experience it in the camper van community. The French cyclists have warned us of rain for the next two days, hopefully nothing too severe. We are sure we will meet up with some of them again as we continue towards Basal.

Nevers

 Tonight we are at Nevers. The Swiss lady is here also, having arrived yesterday. Once again we have struggled with the heat, stopping frequently as and when in a shady spot. When we last cycled this route, seven or eight years ago now, Nevers was our destination. Now our adventure really begins, tomorrow we will cycle over new ground towards our goal Basel, just over the border into Switzerland. This afternoon we passed the official starting point for people cycling the Loire route to Nantes. It is now twelve days since we left the campsite just past Nantes. We think we're doing O.K.