Au revoir canals, bonjour chateaux

Over the past week or so we have cycled along the Canal d'Alsace,the Canal du Rhone au Rhin, the Canal du Dheum, the Canal a la Loire and today the Canal de Briare. They have even canalised sections of the Saone and Doub rivers, so we are well and truly "canal-ed" out (the equivalent of being "schlossed out" in Germany). I think I know what the next experience is to be, as today we see the first of the impressive chateaux that are dotted along the Loire. Gien and Sully are unknown to us, and they sit timelessly and majestically above the plane tree lined old towns below. The delightful owner of the Hotel de la Loire, where we stayed last night, tells us about an Australian couple who are cycling from Zurich to Nantes, but who we have not met even though they are staying at the same hotel, and we wonder whether we will come across them today. After another grasse matinee (Clare is getting far too relaxed and thinks this is actually a holiday) we set off and sure enough we meet the Australians whilst having our picnic lunch. You (dear reader) will be reassured to know that they drink more beer than us, and were particulary impressed by the Bavarian selection. They had not, however, discovered Konig Ludwig Dunkel, but it seems Aussies only like blonde beer, so were not impressed by my description of its heady qualities. Not sure I agree with Clare's description of "winding down" as today was a full day in the saddle! (Sancerre to Sully-sur-Loire - 55 miles)