EV6 day 38

I have a new team of supporters now. The boys have come to help me along. Passepartout has joined them at Amboise on Sunday night and I have to cycle down to join them on Monday morning.

They are preparing themselves for the next day.

Monday morning arrives and support group one goes home. That’s group one Laura- not a single supporter- you and Leeky were individual! I get underway with my rucksack of stuff on my back to meet the boys at their campsite some 30 kms in the direction of Amboise. It is further than I think – and hotter!

I meet up with the group on their campsite and they have a cuppa and a pain au raisin ready for me. Sean and Steve are going to cycle the rest of the day with me, they are lucky as the wind has changed again and is now back in our favour. It is good to have company cycling with me and Steve keeps pace on his ‘gentleman’s cruiser’.

We make good progress and we stop at Blois. We have arranged to meet the back up boys on the south bank of the river – but we are on the north bank. In the finest traditions of this trip there are supposed to be 2 crossings- the first one turns out to be a ferry (that no longer runs!), the second one is a new bridge with specific cycle lane- that closed on 5 June for repairs!!! We eventually find a bridge in Blois and re route the boys into a picnic area on the outskirts of town.

Nice backdrop.

We now have to get down to Amboise. It is a very hot day again and they have sneaked in a couple of decent hills. High five to the boys. They end up doing 80 kms with me. I am grateful for the company and impressed with the tenacity.

It was nice to go through the vineyards, and one had each different variety marked up.

Amboise! Finish! Not only that, it finishes on a downhill run- marvellous.

We made it!