10 June 2025 (cool start but then hot and sunny) 61km

Woke at 4am. Thought I heard someone outside the tent. (Ju: Apparently a sparrow farted 2km away. At home I can be sitting on the couch right next to Pete and say something, and he doesn't hear me. But get him in a tent and suddenly he develops the hearing of a meerkat). All was good but it had gone very cold. Back in tent, threw on some layers and snuggled back down until 6am 

Pack up was a wet one, with fly and groundsheet soaked. Heading out on country roads winding through our first forest of the tour. Also lots of crops grown in this area with hare, deer and pheasant being spotted.

Getting warm, so gear was removed for more comfortable riding.

At Montigny de Gannelon we spotted a Chateau on the hillside. Beautiful, but we wondered how many of it's rooms were utilized.

The money it would take to restore and maintain something of that size would be mindboggling. No wonder people open them up to the public in various ways.

Since we hit the countryside after leaving Paris, we've been inundated with midges. This morning, it was terrible. Riding through clouds upon clouds of them. We dare not open our mouths or we would get a mouthful of midges. Annoyingly I broke my sunglasses a few days ago and of course I end up with heaps of them in my eyes.

Today was the first day we spent most of the day riding in t-shirts and with our arms slathered in sunscreen, we managed to reduce midge numbers by a few hundred.

Came upon the village of Cloyes where we bought some breakfast and headed down to a playground to dry out the fly and groundsheet. Hung them over a ladder wall and some chin up bars. As we ate, so they dried. It was now over twenty degrees. As we set off again, the midges reappeared. They are attracted to our bright coloured clothes and my panniers in particular.

Had to divert to an Intermarche and buy a cheap pair of sunglasses, except at 20 Euro, ($37), they weren't that cheap and don't wrap round your face, but they were all I could get. And at least they helped stop the midges getting in my eyes.

Just as well we made a detour as there were swarms of midges on the next stretch, we were covered in them. Had a few little hills on this section, nothing long, just short and sharp. The road took us alongside a river which was lovely. 

In the town of Freteval, we're sure there was some kind of gypsy gathering. Loads of caravans parked in fields and women and men hanging around in the middle of the roads. Strange. Bought a drink and two pain au chocolate before pushing on. 

Only rode until 2.30pm today and finally reached Vendome after 61kms. This was a lovely town. Found the campsite and put up the tent in a shady spot. Showers and clothes washing for both of us, then a walk into town, where we wandered aimlessly looking for ice cream. Of course they had the fancy stuff at three times the usual price, but we just wanted a normal one. 

We were both feeling knackered in the hot afternoon sun and seeking out shade wherever we could as we walked round this ancient city of Vendome. As we passed through the Cathedrals cloisters we noticed we could get wifi so updated the blog. The camp charge for WiFi and you can only get it if you sit by the office in full sun.

Still haven't got a Sim, or a camping stove and been going a week. So that is on the cards tomorrow. It's hard to believe we've been on the road a week already.

We had a plan to do no more than 50 km a day and although we ended up doing over 60 km on three days, the overall week total of 340km is about what we planned to do. Consequently, the bodies feel good although we both feel a bit tired at the end of each day.

We also need to get money out again. Amazing how you go through it when you buy stuff....who knew ?No wonder it felt so hot earlier, it was 27C.  Supposed to be 31C on Thursday I think.  Finally found a bank and went for a Turkish meal in the shade at the town square.  This is a beautiful, very old town. A lot of the buildings date from the 12th century.

Tomorrow we hit the road to Blois. Dad, you should remember Blois from the tour up the Loire in 2018 at eighty five years old. Still don't know how you did it. Amazing effort.

Our campground is about three quarters full, with a lot of retired Brits here.  Anyway, it's approaching 9pm and the washing is completely dry and put away, so all that's left to do is clean teeth and hit the hay. Good night John Boy (replies welcome)