Bit of a cock up

First, a poem, in French, I hope you like it.

Euh! La Loire !
J'en ai marre.

I am expecting a call from l'académie française any moment.

It's probably sacrilege, but I mean, the Loire.. What's the point? It's a shallow fast - flowing river. I challenge anyone to say from a  photo where any bit of it is.  It's all the bloody same. And another thing, what sort of moron thinks that cobbles are a suitable material for a cycle path? Anyway, I had a damascene moment this morning, a cobble too far, and I thought, the sodding thing doesn't even go in the right direction. So, armed only with 3 gps's and a map, I went off piste.

Yes, the horrendous headwind was still there, but somehow, the fact I was actually heading east seemed cheering. Additionally, there were things to look at, horses, trees, factory farms-lots of those.

It's always the detail that bites me. Normally in France you see Chambres d'hôtes everywhere. I didn't see one in hours. Google is your friend, but it seems a lot of feckless b and b owners couldn't be bothered to let Google know they were having their hols.

Eventually, after 120 km I found an eco castle - yes, really - and the kindly owner took pity, even though he was officially closed.

Thank you people who have commented. It  can be lonely and it's really good to know that someone is reading this bilge. Darren, yes, indeed a polecat, I checked in Wikipedia. Philip, I don't think Jargeau is nearly stylish enough for you. Whoever L is, the answer is yes, but discretion is important.

Night, all, whatever will tomorrow bring?

You couldn't make it up!

Going for a quick stroll after an indifferent breakfast to remind my legs they can do other stuff than pedal, I saw a school girl get out of a Porsche Panamera taxi. Blimey !

Fine dining

If you're ever in Jargeau, unlikely, I know, I can thoroughly recommend Le Pizza Martroy. Wonderful pasta, une (ou plusieurs) bières artisanales and the biggest, most delicious profiteroles I've ever had. All for not much money.

Doubtless I shall no fall asleep to Bill Bryson 'Made in America' as I did last night.

Oh, I keep forgetting the nature table. So far spotted a hare, a polecat and the biggest, scariest beetle I've ever seen. I encouraged it to start a new life outside.

That's all folks.

Fine dining

If you're ever in Jargeau, unlikely, I know, I can thoroughly recommend Le Pizza Martroy. Wonderful pasta, une (ou plusieurs) bières artisanales and the biggest, most delicious profiteroles I've ever had. All for not much money.

Doubtless I shall no fall asleep to Bill Bryson 'Made in America' as I did last night.

Oh, I keep forgetting the nature table. So far spotted a hare, a polecat and the biggest, scariest beetle I've ever seen. I encouraged it to start a new life outside.

That's all folks.

Early bath

Well, almost. The bloody, bloody wind. It not only saps your strength, but it's very irritating, VERY IRRITATING. I had nearly given up by 1400 and was looking for a b and b that had been recommended, but I couldn't find it, so I pushed on to Jargeau and am staying in a hotel. It redefines the word 'cheap'. I haven't stayed anywhere like this since the sixties, but it's clean-ish and friendly. Plus, I can actually eat tonight.

I suppose when humans are glued together, all the bits are expected to last roughly the same time, so it seems only right that, as my hands are packing up, my knees should be failing too.

A bientôt

Wind

20 knots gusting to 30...on the nose! I hadn't expected this! Oh, lordy!

FFS

Monday 8th June
Swim before breakfast, delicious but worrying as my hand is worse - could not close my fingers while swimming. This could curtail things. Maybe I can see a doctor in Munich.

The ride so far has been dull. Going through Tours was stressful and took ages, and for the last hour, I've had a busy main road on one side and impenetrable trees on the other. Fortunately, amusement was provided by a young blade on a moped attempting (but failing) wheelies. My how we laughed.

Sitting in the sun in a delightful café at Montlouis sur Loire having a pleasing but expensive latte.

Later. All in all, it's been a pretty crap day. I have had the wind against me since leaving Paimpol, but today it's really been blowing a hooley. At one point, going down a 5% incline, I stopped pedalling - and stopped moving. Additionally, for reasons that baffle, the cycle path would veer away from the river, climb a steep 500 feet and head off across the wind-swept plain for 10km or so.  Think Norfolk, but nicely elevated to catch whatever wind was going. At one point, some jobsworth git tried to tell me the road was closed, although it clearly wasn't. 'Oh, really?' I sneered (in French, of course) and cycled on.

To finish, the Chambre d'hôtes is in the middle of nowhere and I have only a stale packet of peanuts. All in all.. J'en ai marre. I do admit the last problem is of my own making.

Night night