Day 65: St Pere to Bonnee near Sully-sur-Loire. 90 km, 5:04
The rain started at about 06:00 and continued for most of the day. We left St Pere kitted out in all our rain gear, a good chance to test our gear in wet weather!
We made our way back to Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire where we crossed the Loire and picked up the Euro 6 on the other side. After 20 km we met up with a small group from the Euro Velo Tour. They were drenched as well and taking a breather with a hot cuppa coffee. They had spent the night on the river at St Satur near Sancerre and were making there way to Briane 20 km away. We cycled with them to Briane where we stopped for some coffee and a bite to eat. We still had about 50 km to go, not a good thought in the pouring rain.
The track took us through forests and farmlands and hugged the Loire in places. It is easy to see why the Loire Valley is referred to as the bread basket of France. There are wheat and maize fields as far as the eye can see. The villages we passed through were quaint and picturesque and in better shape than some of the ones we passed through earlier this week. We thought that Giene and St Gondon were especially interesting and worth an overnight stop if we happen to pass through this part of France again.
The rain stayed with us for 55km today, it eventually let up at about 14:00, there was a bit of a breeze which meant that we dried out quite quickly. Our rain jackets were quite damp and not completely waterproof, but with our extra sleeves and cut off jackets underneath them, they did the trick.
We passed through Sully-sur-Loire which is a gorgeous town. The impressive Sully Chateaux with its ancient pepper pot towers, rises up out of a wide moat filled with water at the entrance to the town. It was built in the 14 C to guard the Loire at one of the only places were it can be easily forded. Ian's back tyre was worn through, so we stopped at a bike shop to get a new one; they only had 35mm rather than 32mm, but this is probably a better size for touring anyway.
We picked up a self catering supper at the local Charcuterie and made our way to the Chambres de Hote L'Eglantier on a farm near the village of Bonne. The cottage was very comfortable with a lovely view over the maize fields; Bertrand and Christiane were very welcoming. We had our supper El Fresco while the chickens pecked avidly in the lawn trying to get some tasty morsels before the sun went down.
French farmyard where we stayed.
May have been raining, but pictures still lovely. Hope this warm front over France moves away soon for you!
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