We always seem to take longer packing up when we are not camping in a tent.

I think the problem is that we tend to spread and in a tent there is no room to spread.

Since leaving Orlean the towns and villages have been smaller with less elaborate chateaus. The ones we pass now are not much more that glorified farms.

The trail yet again is fairly flat. We were both startled this morning as two deer who were quietly grazing in the field beside us decided we were a threat to them. They both took off in different directions, one crossing the trail just in front of us, the other racing across the wheat field.

Jo was concerned that we had separated both of them, but in fact their instincts kicked in. The best bet for survival was to separate and possibly confuse their attacker. Hopefully at least one of them, if not both, would survive as the attacker tried to decide which way to go.

The highlight of the day however was crossing the Briare canal bridge. This bridge carrying the canal was built by the Eiffel company and once was the longest iron canal bridge in the world.

We arrived at the campground for tonight about 3.00 but the office wasn’t open until 5.00. We took a look around and weren’t very impressed with it. We took shelter as it started to rain. The rain became a downpour and with the waiting around We checked to see if there was any other accommodation available nearby.

A chamber d’hote 5 minutes away convinced us the ride in the rain would be worth the effort. So off we went and had a dry night in a quirky bedroom, with sloping floors, giant roof beams and shuttered windows.