nbjtours

Sully sur Loire

84 miles

2411 ft climbed.

Today we have had to cycle a whole afternoon without support. After the coffee stop Nigel was depositing Peter at the station to catch the TGV to Paris for his flight to Oslo. We therefore took some cash and decided to stop off at a patisserie for coffee and a cake on the 53 mile leg to our destination for the day

Well we had failed to take account of the fact that everything is closed. The first town we looked was closed, so was the second, so at the third when we saw a cafe door open at the third we thought our luck was in.

Well the owner said he was closed so I thought I would ask. This kind old chap , who claimed to be 210, then explained in some detail that the only place open today was 5 km off route.

He was not keen to let us go, explaining that he couldn’t drive but could drink and didn’t like the English but that was OK because he hated the Germans!

We therefore left empty handed to cycle the last 25 miles hungry, luckily the campsite cafe was open and we all enjoyed a Magnum on arrival

This was a long way from this morning when we woke up to a much cooler day and cloudy skies. Although it threatened to rain properly most of the morning it was never enough to put on our rain jackets although a couple of descents had to be taken carefully.

Leaving the campsite and Peter, who sensibly decided not to cycle at all today we followed the river along before a good climb up onto the plateau.

One of the highlights of the day were the variety of flowers along the verges.

Poppies

Poppies with cornflowers

salvia?

This first section was mostly across the agricultural plateau with it vast fields but we did drop down into a valley where we managed a brief couple of cycle path miles before cycling through the Cress capital of France, Mereville.

This old lavoir required Chris’s closer inspection.

Shortly after these watercress beds safely parked up in the centre of a small village was Nigel’s camper with table and chairs ready for our arrival

Even the crocs were ready to be deployed. In what became a very sensible move Nigel treated us to substantial bacon and scrambled egg baguette followed by coffee and croissants. We said bye to Peter and then set off for what would become the second and last leg

Once again small roads across the plateau as above towards the town of Pithiviers. Whilst this town is famous for its savoury pies the welcoming smell as we approached the town was that of freshly cooked biscuits From a huge factory.

We also saw this very bizarre tourist train running beside the road, the station was in the middle of a field and we guessed that it may have been a toy of the local farmer.

We went through the town and then took a detour along the very pretty Essonne valley. This was a good call as it made a change from the flat lands and huge fields.

This Game of Thrones like row of Plane trees led down to the river.

This fantastic chateau-fortresse at Yevre- Chatel meant a detour and stop but still no shops were open

On from here we had some good peloton riding with Nick allowing the rest of us a go at the front, although he banned me as my shorts had become see-through so I was smiling at him all the time. The shorts are now in the bin.

After the chat with the old man we therefore pressed on through the Orleans Forest and had our first bit of unpleasant cycling along a straight and truck frequented road where Dom took the lead for a good 5 mile stint as the trucks sped past.

All was well and we arrived safely at the campsite which is next to the Loire just as the sun began to shine again.

As ever Nigel and Monica had everything waiting for us once more Our Spaghetti Bol was devoured with enthusiasm.

One of the things that we leant today is that Nick is now El Presidente of Hadlow Park after staging a typical South American type coup. We understand speed bumps, a cycle path , and a miniature railway are the first things proposed. Any dissenters are to be housed in the requisitioned property for which he already has the razor wire being delivered. Be warned.

A 100 mile day alongside the Loire awaits tomorrow and the cooler weather we enjoyed today is threatening to be replaced by heat and thunderstorms. Let’s see. Keep reading and posting your support our backsides need it!!