Saumur

Wednesday 8th October 2014 - Thursday 9th October 2014

As we are doing final packing up to leave, the sun comes out!

Tempted to stay, but, no, off we go the 80 miles or so to Saumur.

Shopping for food (and wine) supplies en-route.

We have some rain en-route, but, soon the sky clears, and we are back to sunshine and fluffy white clouds.

The campsite at Saumur is an ACSI site, called Ile de Offard (N47 15' 36" W0 3' 52").

It is located, as it's name suggests, on an island in the River Loire.

At the entrance to the site is a large notice board, informing you in several languages what to do if the site has to be evacuated due to flooding!

A trifle worrying, since, it is soon p***ing down, with thunder and lightening thrown in.

Kathleen, looking on the brightside, points out, we are on a pitch at the highest point in the site.

Thursday and the weather has improved, sunshine with a little cloud, is the official description.

What is it with women?, a fine day, and, their first thought is "nice day to do some washing".

So, we make use of the washing machines and dryers, clean clothes all round again.

After lunch, a stroll into town (Saumur).

First, we check out the Tourist Information Office, closed for lunch, (separating the French and lunch, is no easy task).

Next, by chance, we locate a restaurant which I have read many recommendations for (Le Trianon).

The reviews I have read, say, it looks a little basic, and old fashioned, indeed most of them compare it to the Café in 'allo 'allo, (the comedy series, for you youngsters).

Well, it remains to be seen if we will try it of not. The menu looks appertising, and the price is an incredible 11Euro, but, it does really look "shabby chic".

Time for a little culture..., a wander through the streets of the "old town", check out the church, and visit the rather imposing Chateaux.


























This, I assume is the servants quarters!

No wonder the French had a Revolution!

Eventually, we are fully cultured, and retire to a bar.

While we are enjoying a refreshing "biere au pression", we meet two of our neighbours from the site.

The lady of the pair injured her hip some years ago, and, has since had the joint replaced no less than SIX times, and, they still ride around on a tandem! Some people are amazing.

Coulon, continued....

Sunday 5th October 2014 - Tuesday 7th October 2014

Not a lot works out as planned today, but, a good day never the less.

It is Sunday, so, off we peddle into Coulon, where, according to the church noticeboard, there is a Mass, at 10:30.

There is also supposed to be a Market, but, after Friday's effort, we are not expecting too much.

We arrive at the church, much to Kathleen's disappointment, the mass is cancelled, there is an alternative posted, but, it is also at 10:30 and is in a village 10 miles away! Since we are on the bicycles, not the scooter, it is simply not possible to get there.

The market is slightly more grand, about five stalls selling foodstuffs, two of which are selling fish. Not of interest to Kathleen!

We retire to the van to have coffee and soak up some rays, before cycling back into Coulon to have an early "birthday meal" (it is my birthday tomorrow).

I treat Kathleen to an excellent meal at the "Quai Sud Restaurant".

Wait a minute, did I just type that?

It is MY birthday, and I am treating Kathleen, I think I have been done AGAIN!

Monday, my birthday, and he weather forecast is right, it is raining and rather cool.

All of our neighbours, and Kathleen's audience:

• a Dutch couple, who seem to enjoy cycling and drinking red wine, so, nice people!
• the Belgian couple who are fellow cyclists, scooter riders, and, red wine drinkers
• The English couple, Susan and Ian, Brompton Folding bicycle riders

are leaving today, we are rather sad to see them go!

Autumn has definitely arrived, the ground is carpeted in fallen leaves.

Tuesday, more rain, for most of the day.

We manage to get the scooter and bicycles loaded, in between the showers, without getting too wet.

Towards evening, it brightens enough to get outdoors for a stroll.

We encounter this rather attractive Gite, just along the road. It looks very attractive, at least from the outside. Perfect if you like tranquillity.






    

Coulon, continued

Friday 3rd October 2014 - Saturday 4th October 2014

The notice board in the campsite, says, there is a market on, Friday (and Sunday), in "Place de l'Eglise" (Church square), Coulon.

This is enough to get Kathleen out of bed by 9:00, the prospect of more 10Euro shoes!

Off we go on the scooter.

What an anti-climax, there is one, yes, that is right, one stall, and, to add insult to injury, that is selling cheese.

Not a shoe, handbag, scarf, etc, etc in sight.

As her majesty would say, "one is not amused".

We go in search of the Super-U at Magne, and replenish wine supplies, plus some cream cakes.

After coffee and cakes, I indulge my artistic tendencies, at the riverside, just outside of the campsite, with a little photography session, whilst Kathleen plays the dutiful wife and makes my lunch.

I have  bad feeling about all of this dutiful wife business, I just know, there is going to be a cost.

A short walk from the campsite entrance, there is a parking area, and, I have noticed, people often park there, to go fishing in the river.

I had noticed that some of the spaces are marked as reserved for the disabled, but, today, I noticed, they even have a position on the river bank, reserved for disabled fishermen (or women).
The French think of everything!

It is my birthday shortly (Monday), and, Kathleen wishes to buy me a bottle of one of my favourite tipples (Remy Martin, or Courvoisier).

We were unable to find any at the Super-U in Magne, so, it is decided we will take the scooter and find the Le Clerc on the North side of Noirt.

A disappointing trip, they do not have either brand, but, Kathleen scores again, we leave the Le Clerc with a bottle of Cointreau for her.

How did that happen, have I been done again?











Saturday, the weather forecast says it is going to rain, but, when we emerge for breakfast, the sun is shining.

The marathon bicycle ride of Thursday is forgotten, so, off we go to cycle another route, from the Tourist Information Map.

It being Saturday, Coulon is much busier, lots of people out on the river in boats, and, feeding the ducks and swans.






















But, it is not long before we are in absolutely quiet woodland, and peddling along, all by ourselves.



The countryside here is mostly flat, with waterways, some natural, some manmade, crisscrossing the landscape.

But, there are some hills!

Sometimes Prendeslone is just not enough, and, you have to get off and push!

The forecast rain has not materialised by 14:00, but, as we are sitting eating lunch, and then chatting to our neighbours Ian and Susan, the clouds roll in.

Time for plan B, Hair Washing!

But, the clouds blow over, and still no rain.

Coulon

Wednesday 1st October 2014 - Thursday 2nd October 2014

Another misty start, turning into glorious sunshine by 10:00.

We travel to Coulon, a bit North, so, this is the beginning of heading home, sadly.

Camping La Venise Verte (N46 18'54" W0 36'33"), an ACSI site, about 1 mile outside of the village of Coulon.

A very pleasant site, although, almost empty.

This area is known a "Green Venice", because of the number of waterways.

Plenty of cycling we are told.

Thursday, another one of those days when reality intrudes, we are running out of clean clothes, so, first task is doing the washing.

Once it is all nicely pegged out, on the line, we decide to cycle to Magne.

According to the map, which Kathleen got from the Tourist Office, there is a circular route, which is 21km (c12.5 Miles).

Off we go, it is mostly along bicycle tracks, or very small roads with little of no traffic.

Another brilliant day, sunshine, and a very pleasant 22C.

Can this really be true, it is after all, the beginning of October, the weather has been superb.

Magne, is a beautiful little place, we pause and have a wander around.

There is a very attractive bridge, over the river. It is decorated with flowers, beautiful houses on both sides.

The bridge is in the process of being painted, but, it is lunch time, no sign of the workmen.

We do not know it yet, but, this will be our downfall.

It is lunch time, we decide to search out somewhere to get a snack and some refreshments.

Le Chene Vert, (The Green Oak) looks promising.

It appears to be incredibly popular, the eating area is fully booked.

But, we are happy to sit on the patio area, drink our Rose, and, eat our Frites.

The measure of Rose is very generous, there are no fewer than five glasses each, in the carafe.

It is Kathleen's turn to pay, well, to be honest, her turn is WELL overdue.

But, as you can see, after five glasses of Rose, she is relaxed about the bill.

She has a good right to be, when the bill comes, it is only 5Euro!

Yes, Kathleen has done it again, it is her turn to pay, and the bill is tiny!

We have sat drinking and talking for so long, everyone else has left, including the workmen who are painting the bridge.

When we get to the bridge, it is closed, the workmen have a sort of "cherry picker" parked right in the middle of it, and large "Route Barre" signs in place.

We need to cross the bridge to follow "route 7" from the map.

We take what we think is a detour to get around the closed bridge, but, end up on the "wrong" side of another stretch of water.

Eventually, we come to a village (St Liguaire), where we encounter an elderly Frenchman who is cutting his hedge.

He directs us, in a mixture of sign language and French, how to get back onto "route 7".

What we decipher from the exchange is:

• we need to go to the village centre
• peddle very fast, because, next...
• go up a big hill
• at the top of the hill, turn sharp left.

Sure enough, it is exactly as described, and, we are soon back on the correct route.

The mellowness brought on by five glasses of rose is just beginning to wear off Kathleen, when we cycle into Coulon, after 15 miles.

As good as the folding bicycles have proved themselves to be, it is decided we are not going to be cycling tomorrow, so, the scooter is unloaded from the trailer.

The effects of the Rose clearly have not completely worn off.....

Kathleen continues her dutiful wife and bike chick role, by cleaning the scooter....

It will not last....