6th September (cloudy morning, sunny, hot afternoon) 41 km

Pete and I were woken by something pulling on the tent peg ropes.  We thought it was Jimmy, subtly trying to wake us up.  So we unzipped the tent but Jimmy’s tent was firmly closed.  I shone the torch around the outside of the tent but there was nothing there.  Pete thought there might be something inside the tent, so started cautiously lifting bits of clothing and pannier bags.  One of the air mattresses started moving – there was definitely something under it, but what?  By the way Pete was behaving, I think he thought it might be a rat or a snake.  Another movement from the sleeping mattress and Pete was out of there quick smart – we cautiously lifted the air mattresses…..nothing.  We lifted every article out of the tent, nothing.  We have no idea what it was but it was 6.50am and we were wide awake, so we started packing up our sleeping bags, making sure we weren’t packing any extras with them.

Jimmy has another midnight visitor - must be that animal
attraction (or invertebrate magnetism)

Jimmy woke up shortly after and he and Pete walked to the local patisserie while I kept packing.  They came back empty handed as it didn’t open until 8.30am.  So we all packed up everything, with Pete and I having to wipe all the pigeon poo off the flysheet first – the penalty of camping under the trees.  Then Pete went back to the patisserie while Jimmy and I transferred all the breakfast things to the dining table.  It was great that nobody else seemed to want this primo spot to eat.

Tucked into breakfast, relishing the cold milk as the camp allows cyclists to store stuff in their fridge and also to power their devices while reception is open.  We were on the road by 10am this morning and started the day by crossing the bridge back to the other side of the Loire.  It was paved cycle track and mostly traffic free all morning.

We stopped at a picnic bench for a coffee and a biscuit after 15km and then headed into the town of Blois.  It has a beautiful old bridge as it’s centrepiece and a nice big promenade where we decided to park our bikes and go for a wander.  

Wondered through the quaint old streets and up to the Basilica which was built around 1670 – but there had been some sort of church on that site since 980!  It is a very, very old town and we enjoyed an hour or so exploring the streets before settling on another kebab shop for lunch.  It’s funny really being in a country which is famed for it’s fine cuisine and so far we’ve had Turkish, Lebanese and Indian!  The only French food we’ve had really is croissants, baguettes and camembert.

Once again, the kebabs made a nice meal but Jimmy and I split one this time as one each had been far too much.  Fully replenished, we claimed our bikes from where we’d left them and headed over a beautiful bridge, where we could take yet more shots of the town we had just visited. Then off on the cycle path for the second stage of our two part journey today. 

The beautiful town of  Blois awaits us

Thank you Blois - a wonderful midday stop.  If only all days were that well organised!

Not too far along, the track became pretty rough, usually a sign that we should have turned off, which was correct. A quick about face and back up a short climb, passing some other bikepackers on the way. Part way along our new route we saw one of those bikepackers trying to get his and his wife’s bikes across a very busy road, but he was having to time it to perfection. Needless to say, his wife was quite happy to let him do the dodgy stuff and was probably wondering if she’d updated the life insurance.

All the cycling now was on cycle paths, winding their way through corn or maize fields, well away from the hustle and bustle. Just before Chailles, we had to go on a main road for about 200 metres. This freaked Dad out and I nearly went into the back of him. I can totally understand it. After never really having ridden on busy roads before (the last time he did any serious cycling was when he was a lad, with his father into Wales - before cars were invented) and you can’t compare the traffic from then to now.

Stocked up at the supermarket and then rode the last 4kms to our campsite for the night in Cande-Sur-Beuvron. This was our most expensive site so far as they have all the trimmings, pool, bar, restaurant, café etc. French grass is non-existent and the ground is rock hard…I mean hand breaking hard, when you’re trying to push pegs into this rock. However, perseverance will overcome and soon the tents were up and Ju and I were slipping away for a swim. (Julia here - This I might add is my first swim since we left NZ a month ago.....and man, did I enjoy it!) Now…. I’ll bet no one was surprised at that. If there’s a pool, then Julia is going to be in it. It was very nice, as soon as we learned how to get into the place and the water, although heated, was mildly so. Back at the tent and it was Dad’s turn to take off and clean up, but how clean he got is debateable as he dropped the soap, then kicked it as he tried to retrieve it, sending it down a sluice into the main drain and gone forever.

After his first day and night, when I really thought we would be putting him on a train, because he just seemed so nervous and tired, he has now found his second wind and today climbed two big hills. So, well done Dad. I’m very proud of you. You are doing exceedingly well.