nbjtours

Vichy

95 miles

2017 ft climbed

Soon after our coffee break, where we had peeled off the main road to run on the nicer smaller roads we spotted a fellow cyclist at the side of the road. Passing they waved ok so we carried on.

After half a mile the cyclist was following just behind so I dropped back for a chat

Dorian, who is presently a student nurse, was formerly in the junior French national cycling team, said she was out of training and was out for a short 30 km ride when we turned up. Although claiming not to be, I am sure she was sandbagging as she was happy to keep in our peloton as by coincidence we were going right past her front door. So delivering her back home after 20 minutes or so we were back to 4 again.

This morning we expected to wake up to rain but the thunderstorms failed to appear. Luckily apart from some light spots nothing much arrived, although it was much cooler leading us to sport long sleeves for the first time.

Leaving the campsite at around 8.15. We headed off along the cycle path which ran alongside the Loire canal.

This was a great start to the day There were no cars to worry about, no wind and it was flat. We again were able to whizz along at 18 mph.

We didn’t even see a road except a 500 m stretch after 10 miles when incredibly we saw Nigel passing by in the camper on the other side of the canal.

The great thing about this was the abundance of wildlife, we saw a dozen Herons, many Kites, Buzzards & Egrets. In addition a pair of Osprey. Nick claims he saw a small deer, but also almost ran over a muskrat which is a the size of a big domestic cat but looks like a big rat.

I then sadly kicked a small bird that flew up out of the grass as we went passed. Chris who was following, thinks he saw it just looking stunned so we hope nothing worse than that occurred.

The other thing that was very noticeable was the amount of Japanese Knotweed everywhere in this part of France it looks as though it is a really serious issue.

The towpath cycleway ended after a full 22 miles. We then had 10 miles of peloton riding before the coffee stop which we managed well as Nigel passed us and was only just able to set up in time as he had had to stop to top up the provisions.

This was a great first leg with fun safe and fast cycling so we covered the 32 miles in well under 2 hours.

After the stop which was down a farm track at the side of a field the sun started to come out so we shed the sleeves and suncreamed up as once more the temperature was set to rise to 30 degrees.

Having set off on the smaller roads to the side of the main route this is where we were joined by Dorian for 20 minutes.

The route which had followed the Loire for a day and a half now peeled away to cross towards the valley of the Allier and our destination for the day Vichy.

The scenery started to change with smaller fields, hedges and rolling countryside. The only thing stopping it totally looking English were the 5 very French Chateaux we went past.

Lunch stop was just below another chateau fort next to a lake where once again the riders were treated to baguette sandwiches as well as freshly purchased cherries and apricots

Having kept a healthy pace up so far today we had under 30 miles to go to the end so there was no need for a tea stop.

Starting out very warm and sunny the rest of the ride saw the temperature drop considerably as the clouds gathered and wind blew occasionally from behind which was great.

This extraordinary n shaped cloud appeared from nowhere and the lack of planes suggest it wasn’t a vapour Trail.

A couple of hills later we then started our downward route to the river Allier where it started to get built up. Here Chris found his power and led the peloton into Vichy itself where we had the benefit of a cycle path alongside the river and through the park We arrived at the campsite just as it started to spit with rain.

On arrival Dom and Nick had a swim and post dinner whilst I write this blog the others are enjoying an active game of Chase the Lady where Chris and Nigel are teaching the other two how to play. It certainly sounds as if Dom is picking it up more quickly than Nick !

Outside the weather has turned nasty with the same torrential rain that stopped the Paris tennis pouring down making it difficult to hear without shouting in the camper. The boys are praying that Nigel put the tents up well.

The rain is expected to continue all night but stop for the morning cycle. Let’s hope so, just two days to go, but now the climbing starts.