EV6 day 37

It’s a very pleasant stay at Sancerre. The supporters check out the ‘caves’ and get themselves some bottles to take back. We are staying in an hotel overlooking one of the grape growing slopes. Krc learns about the different types of soil in this small area and likes the limestone. That is the area in front or our hotel so it’s quite appropriate that we get some! Sancerre is a bigger village than it looks and is very well geared to tourism. We have a good explore, chill out, and sample of the food and drink available! Forecast is for thundery showers. We get some dark clouds but remain dry. Passepartout in the campsite at the bottom of the hill is drenched when the clouds open up down there.

We are off to Orleans today. Krc joins me on the first leg. 4 lots of 30 kms. First leg is ok. Along the canal, past one of the massive nuclear power stations you find on the river, and into Chatillon to meet the support crew. We start the second leg to Lion en Sulias with Krc still with me. We cross some of the wealthy chateau areas. There is a fantastic and ornate aqueduct over the river- leftover from a very grand age. Problem is the wind direction has changed today and is in our face- it is also getting stronger. A lot of the route is on top of levees. Brilliant when the wind is behind you but not when it’s in your face! It is starting to be a slog against the wind as the breeze picks up.

Betsy is still with it!

Another bonus of cycling over the levees- it seems to be french black fly/midge season! It is hard to breathe without a fly intake and I have to breathe through clenched lips. Most cyclists I see are in the same boat- but I do see one clever couple who are wrapped in what appears to be Scottish midge nets- smart! We get to Lion and Krc drops into the supporters bus. It is no fun in this wind.

Third stop is at Chateauneuf-sur-Loire. Ideal for supporter Lyndsay to pick up a bottle of her husbands favourite wine. It is still France and it’s Sunday so the shops are shut and she fails!😂

The rest of the way to Orleans is just a slog. The wind gets stronger and I am working really hard just to keep average progress. Eventually I reach Orleans. They have built a park for the people on the outskirts, with a lake to swim, canoe, or sail plus loads of bbq places and picnic spots. It is Sunday so it is getting good use- as is the beach on the river in the city. Passepartout heads off to Amboise to RV with the next supporter group and I get an hotel with this group. Orleans is a lovely town so we stroll into the square to join the giant statue of Joan d’Arc for some beers and good food.