Day 62 - Pierrefitte-sur-Loire to Marzy (near Nevers)

Day 62. Pierrefitte-sur-Loire to Marzy (near Nevers). 110 km, 6h00.

Ham and eggs, and homemade cassis jam from Benoit, and we were off again down the canal bank to Diou. Our bikes felt good after a bit of a cleanup yesterday afternoon.

At Bourbon-Lancy we turned off into undulating hills with fields of Charolais cattle - an enjoyable route. Good coffee in Cronat and then out onto the Loire plains. This is a dramatic change from hilly to flat. We needed to cover some distance so hopped onto the D116, a long and straight but fortunately quiet road past fields of maize to Decize. With a gentle sun and a gentle breeze on our backs we hummed along.

We both fell asleep on the banks of the Canal Lateral a la Loire after our baguette, tomato and Camembert picnic. We followed the canal, mostly on loose gravel on a cycle path under construction, and supposedly closed, to eventually cross the Loire immediately south of Nevers. Then followed the Loire a short way to our overnight stop, the Les Indris Chambre d'Hote, a huge old farmhouse, in need of attention, but relaxed and homely nonetheless.

We managed to find a supermarket selling lasagne, so this we enjoyed overlooking the Loire Valley while watching the antics of the resident dog and donkey. 

I thought that I would have ample time to read and relax on this journey. I haven't opened my book in 3 weeks, let alone read a chapter - and I normally get through a book every 2 weeks at home. Planning, washing, writing, looking for accommodation and meals, tending to the bikes, and before you can say "Domaine de la Romanée-Conti" it's 10 o'clock at night. Riding the bikes is the easy part!

Early morning on the Loire.

The hills above Bourbon-Lancy.

Looking towards Vitry-sur-Loire.

We passed this old fellow on a steep hill.

Rear or medium rare? How do you like your steak?

There's lots of space here!

These Citroens are beauty's. Deux chevaux.

Les Indris, our farm-style overnight stop.

Al fresco supper overlooking the Loire Valley.

Le chien et l'âne.