16 June 2025 (sunny and warm) 68km

Last night I was finding it hard to get to sleep. Couldn't have been asleep for more than forty five minutes when I heard the cyclist who had just arrived as we were going to bed, talking on his phone. I let it go for a while and then looked at my phone, it was 11.08pm. 

With no sign of him curtailing the noise, which I believe was him dictating his days events, I decided to practice my confrontational French on him. 

Now what I meant to say in my strongest Liverpool accent was:

'Hey pal..why don't ya knock it on the ead'

Referring to my French phrase book afterwards, what I actually said was:

"Your elephant is standing on my foot". Which to a black African Frenchman, may not have come across well. 

However, I later looked up his response which worked out something like: 

"I will take my elephant's tusk and shove it up your skinny white arse." 

Actually I said:

Pardon Monsieur, je suis tres fatigue"

To which he replied in English

"oh sorry"

And we both fell asleep. 

Woke at 5.40am to clear skies. Over to the bathrooms and back to the tent for pack up. By 7am, we were cycling. 

Set off past Lake Auron which we had swum in yesterday, and on seeing steps emerging from this part of the lake, we thought we'd cycle over to see if it was any clearer here than where we'd swum yesterday.

We'll count ourselves lucky yesterday then. I took another photo of the corner for you to enjoy - it smelt as good as it looks!

This morning was lovely. Country roads, but a little busier than normal. Riding past fields full of barley and golden wheat, for miles. Great temperature and undulating surface.

Had breakfast in the quaint village of Dun sur Auron, where I took some shots of the local fort. Lovely old town and the people know how to look after it. From one village to the next, the standard of preservation differs immensely. 

We were making good headway and although the roads were a little busier than we've encountered for country roads, the drivers were very good. 

This morning we encountered what we thought was a black squirrel, but the movement was wrong as it sped across the road. So we think it was some kind of fluffy black ferret. Then we saw two more in the next hour all running across the road to a wheat field. They're actually quite cute.

Church from 11th century in Thaumiers.

At Ainay de Chateau they had a church built in the twelfth century and some ramparts. They also had a beautiful old, what was probably once, a gated entrance.

Got some money out from a dispenser at the local bank and asked a local if they had an Intermarche.

Directed us just up the road, where we shopped and then ate our lunch in the shade of the rear entry to the pharmacy, who were closed til 2pm. 

At 2.05pm we pressed on in sunny and warm conditions. Not far along was our final destination for the day Saint Bonnet Tronais.

Found the camp, no one on reception, which is normal in France, as they close for a few hours and reopen. 

Saw a guy mowing and he said anywhere we want, so we picked a nice shady spot under a tree and set up.

They have the most gorgeous infinity pool here, so one minute Julia was pushing in a peg, the next minute she was giving me the biggest grin as I walked into the pool area. The view was great and only a few people using it.

One night Euro 20. NZ $40 a great deal. After swimming and lazing by the pool, Ju said to me, "Wow, this is almost like being on holiday!"

I did some washing, as did Julia and we hung it all out to dry. 

As requested, the $5 washing line that needs no pegs, in action. With a close-up below so you can see how the twisted elastic works to hold the clothes. Brilliant.

Over to the reception at 5pm to pay for the night and ice cream to follow.

Sat in their outdoor eating/drinking area and enjoyed the serenity and the fact that we'd rattled off 68kms by 2.30pm in warm weather.

By 7.30pm we had eaten a lovely meal. Tonight's delight, beef bourguignon, with rice and corn...delicious. All our washing was practically dry and what isn't will dry overnight.

A trip over to sit outside reception, as it's the only place we can get wifi. 

A long day planned tomorrow with some hills. The landscape the last couple of days has been throwing in long easy climbs, but now we start preparing for the big stuff.