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.

A quiet day of rest in Fougeres today, the most energy spent was when we transferred rooms. When we booked in yesterday there was only 1 standard room available and that was for one night only.

We upgraded to a larger room for today so that Jo can rest her leg.

While here we did wander around this ancient town. Humans have lived in this area from around 5000 b.c.

The town lies on the crossroads of 2 roman roads and the walled defences date from the 11th century, these were improved and extended between the 12th – 14th centuries.

It maybe a rest day from cycling but Jo got me up in the middle of the night to go to church.

Well not quite the middle of night it’s actually 8.15 and it’s no ordinary church it’s the monastery of Momt St-Michel in France.

As we walk along the causeway there are just a few other people out and about. But a couple of full buses do pass us.

We have forgone breakfast to get an early start, but as soon as we set foot on the Mont we head to a restaurant for coffee and crepes.

Then it’s up and exploring narrow alleys leading up to the monastery. The monastery dates back 989 when it was founded by the Benedictine Monks.

Since then it has been expanded and altered to what can be seen today.

We didn’t go through the monastery itself as this was €11 each.

Having completed our tour by 10.30 we looked out towards the causeway to see hordes of people making their way towards us. Thank goodness for Jo making us get an early start.