Saintes to Jonzac

Last night we had to dash back from our meal as the heavens opened with the first rain we have encountered. Lovely city with lots to see but we had important things to do today - retail therapy!!
(see photo of Billy in his new kit!!). We are now complete with extra padding French style and this brings a smile to our faces!
After shopping we headed off in the rain but we didn't care - we had comfortable bottoms! Coffee time was spent in yet another derelict village with just the usual 2 local characters in the bar. However one of them was wearing a Staid Francais pink rugby shirt and we managed to have a discussion about rugby in France and Scotland (Terry Mole will be very impressed with this). On going to pay this gentleman had adopted us as his friends and paid for us. Pleasant cycling even in rain and now the sun is shining and we are in the lovely town of Jonzac which has a beautiful chateau. Laundry done, blog completed, we're off to the bar. Keep commenting.
Distance:52.8k

Niort toSaintes

Today we decided to take it easy and not travel as far - BUT we actually did more than yesterday but it was much easier or we are getting more proficient!!!! Many eating places in France are still closed on Sunday evening apart from places like Mcdonalds. Hence last night we had to walk about a mile to a pasta joint in a place that looked like an industrial estate. Tonight we are in the lovely old city of Saintes on the Charente river. It is quite different and very beautiful. The cycling today was much easier although the wind was still very strong against us. The only incident of the day was when shirley nudged a billboard and fell off her bike. She was so excited to see some SHOPS! The only damage was to her front basket which has been squeezed back into shape. Great comments - they are keeping us going.

Ddistance: 77.1k

Chantonnay to Niort

This has been a bad hair day for both of us. It started last night when Billy stood up in our bedroom and hit his head on the window frame. We thought it was just wood but after 30 seconds of lying groaning in a sort of grown up way Billy decided he was lying in a pool of blood (the window frame had a metal closing spear which had cut his head). After being unable to stop the flow of blood and distributing it quite well round our room we decided to go to reception. He did look like something out of Chain Saw Massacre. He was attended to by the hotel staff in a very admirable way which is more than he can say about his wife. She was trying to be helpful but kept asking for a seat and a glass of water for herself (not good with blood!). After this was sorted we enjoyed a lovely evening and this morning we set off on our most difficult trip so far. In our first hour we only did 10 k, not helped by shirley falling off her bike and knackering her brake. As it was sunday and not a lot of lorries around we decided to travel down a major D road but it didn't help when shirley's chain came off. That took a bit of organising! By the end of the day we eventually left the Vendee and moved into the Deux Sevres region. (see photo)

Distance: 75.53 k

Vallet to Chantonnay

Without a detailed map of the area we had to follow the main road to Clisson (10k) and then we had a more detailed map to guide us on our way. Coffee break was spent watching two weddings in a village and we saw more in many villages en route to our destination. How many hills are in 1K? We don't know but today we thought there was a hell of a lot. Arrived in our destination town to discover tourist information office shut. However a very kind elderly gentleman expained several times where our hotel was. Needless to say we only understood 10% which was just as well as our bottoms were beginning to get very sore and we still had a further 5k to travel. The place we are staying in is beautiful and beside River Lay and had a swimming pool which can be seen by photo.

Distance: 74.4K

Villepot to Vallet

Had a very enjoyable dinner with Val,John, Simon and Sophie. Many different wine tastings throughout evening. Woke to sunshine again and thought it was about time we did some kilometres. John was going to cycle with us to the first major turn off but unfortunately we had to leave him by the roadside with his bike in a ditch as he had a puncture. We waved goodbye and thanked him for a glorious visit. Today's photograph shows us crossing the Loire River which has been the first major milestone on the trip. We have now left the maize fields behind and have moved into sunflower fields and vineyards. In fact tonight we are staying in Vallet,the capital of the Muscadet region - what could be nicer on a warm evening after a long hot cycle. Weather getting hotter but hope everyone reading this is enjoying the same weather.

distance: 84.2K

Janze to La Hee, Villepot

Left hotel around 9.30 and cycled to Martigne where we met John Mason for a coffee at the Hotel Commerce. We then cycled with him to his beautiful 16th century home near Villepot. Waiting there to greet us was Valerie his wife, Simon his son and his girlfriend Sophie. After looking over their fabulous home we enjoyed a very relaxing and leisurely French lunch in the garden under the shade of the trees.

Washing done, electrical gadgets charged up, we are now preparing for an excellent evening with them.

distance: 37k

Chateaugiron to Janze

Lovely town and lovely hotel but not such a lovely church clock which chimed every 15 minutes all night. It was a long night.
We took the bus to Rennes today and spent the morning strolling round the city which has some very beautiful old architecture. After lunch we returned to the hotel and cycled to Janze along very quiet lanes and hardly any hills. There is no wifi in hotel so this will be posted a day late when we are visiting John and Valerie Mason who have moved from Buckinghamshire and bought a property in Villepot in rural France. We will be glad to see them for many reasons, one of which is that we have brought the wrong adaptor for all our electrical things - we have the one for USA and Australia!!!! I can only put it down to moving house before we came away and I could only find one adaptor so thought it must be the French one.

Distance: 14k