We started our tour of Tours at 8.30 and it is getting quite warm already.

Our first port of call is the Cathedral which is situated at the end of the original road from Paris and would have been an impressive sight in the 16th century. Come to think of it it’s an impressive sight in the 21st century. I’m not too sure I would employ the builders to build my house as it took them 400 years to complete the work.

Next on the list is the Basilica of St Martin. This is one of the renowned local architect Victor Laloux designs. The current building was completed in 1924.

The original Basilica dating back to the 5th century was completely destroyed and all signs if it erased during the French Revolution. The site being rediscovered in 1860.

Then it was off to discover two more of Victor Laloux’s creations, the Hotel de Ville and the Gare.

On the way to the Hotel de Ville we stopped off at a market and bought a casual top each for going out. Something smart but cool to wear in this heat. I know more stuff to carry.

The Gare de Tours is another fine example of Victor Laloux work. The railway was first established at the end of the 19th century and helped with the revival of Tours.

While outside the station taking pictures Jo was approached by a begger, she was quite aggressive and right in Jo’s face. Whichever way Jo moved she made sure she was right there almost threatening her. Eventually Jo saw me and called out. The woman remained there as I approached them I shouted out at the woman and went to Jo’s side. The look the woman gave Jo was even more worrisome than her actions. Jo was visibly shaking as we made for the security of the station.

After that episode we made our way back to the hotel. The morning was over and the temperature was starting to soar.

Not such an early start today, as only a short ride into Tours.

Again the route was mainly flat through fields of wheat or sometimes fields of sunflowers, woods or beside the river.

We did stop at a water mill with a unique system to raise or lower the water wheel so it could be used no matter what the level of the river was.

We arrived at the hotel too early, but it was too hot to wander around town. We deposited the bikes into safe keeping g of the hotel and then deposited ourselves in the entrance lounge.

Despite being told check-in wasn’t until 3.00 we were given our room keys at 1.30. I think we might have been making the reception look untidy and they wanted us out of the way.

We ventured out for dinner at 6.30 but it was still too hot as we tried to choose a restaurant.

We finally sat down at around 7.00 still not really feeling hungry but now had to order.

Unfortunately we couldn’t wait longer as we were both hungry, not having much lunch, and we both miss chose our meals.

Perhaps tomorrow we’ll do better.

The regime has changed. Well only slightly. We are up and off on the road by 8.00.

We have forgone coffee this morning so we can get some Kms under our belts before it gets too hot.

The EV6 is well signed and easy to follow, although there are some detours to chataux.

We however are keeping to the most direct route so we can arrive at our campsite before it gets too hot.

A way off to my right hidden in the trees I see a chataux it looks to be quite large from what I saw in my passing glimpse. I don’t saw anything to Jo as it is too far away.

15 minutes later Jo calls me to stop. She points out the Chataux I saw earlier, although now we are much closer. Pictures are taken and it’s back on our bikes.

At the next junction we stop, look to our right and at the end of a straight road about a km away is this magnificent house.

We deviate from our route drawn closer to the chataux. We stop, take some more photos, and again drawn closer. Before we know it we are standing at the front gates parking our bikes. While here we decide to take in the grandeur while taking a cool drink.

So much for getting to our destination early.

We are getting better at packing up camp, although we were the last of the walkers/velo campers to leave.

We didn’t even stop for a coffee at the local tobac.

We were soon rewarded by pushing our bikes up a steep hill, which brought us to a superU shop, were Jo purchased some water to see us through the day.

Following the EV6 seems quite easy now we recognise the signs. But it’s frustrating having been directed, off a nice flat paths, up and down hills only to find we could have stayed on our original track.

So from now on we will be double checking to see if there is an easier route.

Having said that, we did push our bikes up a detour route with a gradient of 12%. at Le Marconnay. This took us took us through the troglodyte village.

We were then sent away from the river and travelled through vineyards in the heat of the afternoon. I think the temp got upto 36°C

We stopped to look at the camping Isle Vert. This was €30 and looked busy and crowded. So we carried on even though we felt exhausted.

We carried on and found Les Terre de Belle Rive after another 2.5 km. This campsite cost us €24 including a large bottle of cold apple juice, a baguette and 2 pain au chocolate for tomorrow.

After our couple of days rest it is back in our bikes to ride UP the Loire.

I had planned our ride to go south and to meet up with the EV6 cycle route, thus avoiding the town of Angers.

Unfortunately the route I chose had some hills, and Jo’s knee still hasn’t come completely right.

We finally got to the confluence of the Maine and the Loire. By this time Jo had made it clear that I should have taken the route into Angers thus saving her the hills. But Angers was built on the hills between the two rivers.

I wanted to go one way, which happened yo be in the opposite direction to all the other cyclists. It was no good explaining Jo had also seen EV6 signs so we went off in her chosen direction.

After a short while we stopped and checked with Google again only to realise we were going the wrong way.

Turning round we could also see EV6 cycle signs the otherway.

Why do we always have so much difficulty getting out if cities?

Having found the signs we were happy again riding on mainly flat roads with very little traffic.

Today really was a rest day, well nearly. We did cycle 7km to Decathlon to buy a few more things.

Yes we have 6 panniers between us full of stuff, but we still want more.

To be fair though I have broken my mirror and need a replacement. Then I need some cycling glasses to save my eyes from the bugs. The bikes will need new brakes before long so now is a good chance to get some. Also we could do with a washing line, we had one but have left it behind.

Oh and Jo is suffering from tight muscles so a foam roller is required.

Also while there we saw some emergency meals, oil for the chains and hand sanitiser.

Not sure I want to be in charge of packing all this stuff tomorrow.

Lazy start to the day? We are still up before 7.00 drinking tea before breakfast and before heading off for a walk into Angers to see the old town.

At least it will be a rest day from cycling.

We decided to leave fairly early, before it got too hot, for the old town. The walk took us past the lake where a group were doing their exercise class. We then ca.e across a small market with a varied selection of stalls. There were roast chicken stand, fresh vegetables, nuts & dried fruits, bread, cheeses, along with Greek and Asian stands. Unfortunately it was too early to eat and we didn’t wa t to carry too much around with us. So we left without buying anything.

The walkway into town also forms part of the Eurovelo 6 cycle route, which we will be following in a couple of days time.

The chataux is an impressive building overlooking the River and Dates back to the 12th century.

In the chataux is a medieval tapestry depicting the apocalypse. This quite impressive at 910 Mars long. I think it is actually telling the history of the town, which over the years changed hands after raids from differing areas and was ransacked., looted and the people massacred.

We then wandered around the old town where a few 14th century buildings still remain.

Then it was a walk back to our cabin all in all a 12km walk. Not bad for a rest day.

We started the day with breakfast provided by our host at the chamber d’otes.

It was promising to be a lovely day.

We started out on a nice country road and soon picked up a cycle path along a disused railway. These are always good to ride as there are never any steep hills on them.

We also managed to pick up a map of cycle routes. This showed routes for bikes all the way to Angers. All we had to do is find them.

The trail we started out on should meet up with these other routes so we were fixed for the day.

At the first town was our first challenge there were several routes on our map, but no other roads were marked so finding the exact location might be a bit more difficult. But they would shortly would be signed.

I was also tracking our route with my garmin.

At the first road crossing there were no signs of other cycle ways so we crossed and continued along the old railway. My garmin then decided to turn us back. We ignored here as there was a new bridge across a river that she didn’t know about.

We carried on a short way and then stopped to check again as there were still no signs of these other paths.

Jo’s google wanted us to turn around and follow the river. My garmin wanted us to turn around and follow the road.

Jo not trusting the garmin decided we would follow the river, I didn’t as I had seen the track.

We back tracked to the road and decended a hill to the river bank, only to find that it’s a walking or mountain bike track and not fit for our overloaded road style bikes.

So we struggled to push our bikes back up the hill and then to follow the garmin.

By following our procedure of navigating a short distance ahead we managed to keep to the country lanes we enjoy.

At times is felt like we were back on a camino with all the churches, little chapels and crucifixes along the way.

We made it to Angers without touching a main road and are staying in a cabin for a couple of days rest from the bikes.

We plan to do some sight seeing in Angers and also some maintenance on the bikes.

Today we are determined that technology will not beat us.

We plan to win the battle by stealth. Today we will navigate short routes along the way we plan to go. Garmin seems to take us along the picturesque roads using this ploy.

So we set out with our devious plan. There were a couple of things we failed to realise to start off with.

Firstly going through the small towns we were missing shops, I.e. places to get our lunch.

The first shop we came across was just before 2.00. Good, we’ll wait a few minutes until it opens ar 2.00 after the owners have had lunch. 2.00 came and went and the shop still wasn’t open. We checked the notice on the door and found it was only open from 8.00 to 12.30 Monday to Friday.

Never mind we can always stop at a tobacco and get coffee and a snack.

Wrong again. The tobac had no bread so no sandwiches, but a great view for a coffee.

After a rest we continued on our way, little bits at a time, thus keeping garmin directing us along quiet country roads. Finally we got the garmin to direct us to a camp ground.

The garmin got her revenge she sent us to a remote campsite, in the middle of nowhere, that was closed.

We resulted to Google to find a chamber dot nearby. A quick call with broken French and broken English and we were. Booked in, only anther 45 mins to cycle.

On the upside we spent a charming evening at a farm stay, and breakfast was included.