9 June 2025 (cool start, becoming sunny and hot) 47km

Woke early to pop over to the loos after my delicious beer last night. Afflingen, from Belgium, what a nice drop.

We found out the temperature early on was seven degrees. Felt like five..brrr. Back to bed where we both crawled into our sleeping bags fully clothed and I even donned my beanie to keep my head warm.

We woke from that nap having both had dreams. We both seem to be dreaming a lot lately, which we have noticed on prior bike tours. I think there are so many impressions each day, the brain has a lot of sorting out to do each night.

By 7.30am we were sitting in the small eating area where we'd eaten last night. Cup of coffee to kickstart the day. We've given up on expecting our usual coffee, when in Rome and all that. The last two places we've had coffee have been very nice. 

Nice little tent spot at a lovely campsite (top) and with Eliot (above)

Off and running and today, although still riding through fields of wheat, barley etc, the villages were a lot closer together and none of the long straights with headwinds which we encountered yesterday.

This is an old part of France and there are remnants of that in every village you pass through. 

Today was also our best day weatherwise. After the coldest start we've had, the day warmed up quickly and stayed that way, so it was very enjoyable riding the quietest of small country lanes and tracks. 

Just on midday, we arrived in another old town called Bonneval, which dated back to the twelfth century. The town was filled with buildings and remnants from nearly a thousand years ago.

And amongst all this, people go about their daily chores and live their lives as though they are living in a new subdivision anywhere in the world.

We saw there was a market set up in the old town and parked just around the corner from it, leaning the bikes against the 11th century town wall. Whilst I wandered into the market, Julia researched our afternoon and looked after the bikes.

Bought two apples, two delicious apricots, (the biggest and tastiest we've ever had), four chicken wings and a good sized scoop of small roasted potatoes in a lovely sauce. 

As I had some baguette left from breakfast this morning, Julia had three pieces of chicken and I had brie cheese and spuds on baguette. It was yummy and kept us going for hours after. 

Heading now toward our destination for tonight, Chateaudun. Into the town square and after purchasing a couple of ice creams and a drink, we strolled to a lookout point overlooking the town and district.

At the Chateau, we met Gerard and Marie from Holland, long time cyclists and on a three week tour around France. They are both retired and have the same views as us with their cycling, that it makes you feel so free and alive. 

Just another 13th century building on the roadside.

Took some photos of the Chateau and then went in search of our camp for the night. As we approached, we could see it was closed. A sign on the gate which we could only partially understand suggested that was the case.

In a field opposite, we saw a group of people working in the fields and asked if it was possible to pitch our tent for the night. They asked for ten euros, which was a good price and the land was flat and grassy. There was also a bit of shade which was much needed because by now it was very hot.

The men apparently rent the land and also seem to have some sheep. The only woman was mowing the two fields behind the one we set up in and she does dog agility. Had an eleven month old border collie with her who wanted to play.

The guys couldn't speak English at all, so it was pretty hard to converse, but we managed. Of Turkish origin, they brought us a one and a half litre bottle of water for the night and asked if we needed food.

After completing their work, they left us to ourselves. It was 6pm and we had secured a place for the night. By 7pm, the workers had gone and left us alone.

It's a nice flat field and the pegs pushed in easily. As we weren't expecting to be in this predicament, we were a little low on food tonight, so for dinner we had :

trusty sardines

brie cheese

tomatoes

nectarine and peanuts 

Julia did a bit of sewing on her front bag, whilst I edited my photos and finished the blog.