Relax, it's all downhill from here!

Life is very simple on the road and something as simple as not getting good wifi, can throw you out of kilter. Of course, we're still relying on free WiFi as we just can't be bothered with a new SIM and setting it up. Sitting at our campground last night, the coverage was non existent, hence our blog hasn't been posted for a couple of days. Last night as we started the dishes, we got talking to Marijke and Ton, a Dutch couple from Arnhem. He was a good cyclist who did the 100 cols (peaks) in three weeks. That is serious stuff. Done Iron Man etc. Nice guy too. Marijke was the total opposite. In her own words, she's lazy. She was so funny. Found out they've been together forty years. Woke at 5am, on the road by 6am. After a very big day yesterday (we always wait for hills or mountains and then throw in big mileage), we were intending to do only around 45kms today. Got to allow for muscles doing more work than they have in a long time. We leave behind the village of Vi...

Today would be testing and there was no getting around it. We broke camp at 6.40am and cycled back along the river, over the bridge into the very quiet Centre Ville of Vichy. It wasn't long before we were out in the suburbs and then the country, thanks to great route planning by Julia. But one thing she wasn't going to be able to do today, was take the hills out. Straight away, we were climbing, nothing intense, but it went on for over 20kms.  Came to the hamlet of Arronnes where there was a twelfth century church. Obviously I had to photograph it. Fortunately the first part of our ride was in the shade bar the final fifteen minutes. It was quite cool but much appreciated after all the heat we've been having. Into the village of Le Mayet de Montagne where every street seemed to be a one way and we were going the other. Found an Intermarche, did our breakfast shopping and ate in the shade of the 19th century church at about 9.30am. We had already done 27 kms to this point. ...

Woke at 5am but dozed until 5.40am I was restless, anxious for no apparent reason. But the reason would soon become clear.  Julia woke from her usual restful sleep and we stealthily began the packdown. We were surrounded on all sides by other campers, unaware of who might suddenly pop out of another tent, or caravan, with a hearty "Bonjour!”  Crept over to the ‘toilettes', made it past the other bikepacker, sleeping soundly on our left. Negotiated the children's playground, full of danger with swings, slides and those swirly things, that nobody knows the name of, but make you feel sick.  Toilets were empty, but we opened every cubicle anyway. You can never be too sure. Get caught in here and you're in the shit.  Time to go. When we checked in last night we thought it was “just another campground" but this morning when we silently rode our bikes through the remaining section of camp, I realised why I'd felt uneasy.  Locked gates.... not open until 7.45am. I do...