Winding down

We have been made very welcome by our host Nicolas and we feel well rested. We even allow ourselves a lie in, or Grasse Matinee in French, with breakfast at 8.30. Looking at the route ahead we think we will be able to get as far as Nantes fairly easily and still get home in good time. Infact we have decided to wind down a litle and reduce our daily distances so as to have more time to enjoy the treasures of the Loire. It is warm and sunny but we stay sensibly covered today as our backs are rather burned. We finally join the Loire proper and follow it for most of the day along Levee roads. We have our usual caffeine fix of a coke and a petit cafe in the charming town of La Charite-sur-Loire. The towns are becoming more and more attractive with beautiful shuttered houses adorned with climbing roses and Virginia creeper, and the verges are filled with a colourful variety of wildflowers. We have a rather swift picnic due to a swarm of midges before arriving in Saint Satur, on the Loire below Sancerre. We check into our hotel and decide to change and cycle, unloaded, up the vine covered hill to Sancerre. We feel rather naked without our lycra and get lost of course. Plus ca change! We arrive hot and sweaty, even before we climb up the tall tower to enjoy the 360 degree panoramic view. It is superb. We can see for miles: where we have come from, and where we have still to go. We eat at a local Auberge, bony Carp washed down with Pouilly Fume from across the river. (Challuy to Sancerre - 40 miles)