Day 13 Notre dame to St gillets  Croix le vie only 25km on the voices verts through the trees and along the coast.

Past a place a little built up like resorts in Spain to the working harbour of St gillets , buzzing with people and boats in for the tour de France on the water. Decision to stay potentially for a couple of nights with opportunities for paintings of the harbour. A little campsite south of the town itself 14 euro and nice and friendly. A rest on the beach, buzzing still at 8.30pm and then a couple of sundowners.

Dave up early and painting on the harbour, the Tour de France a la voile (sailing extravaganza in town) I pottered round, cleaning the tent and catching up with admin - what a hard life!!! Now having a coffee, even harder. Off to the beach soon - how hard does life get ha ha. Glad all in the UK enjoying fab weather too this always happens when i leave the country and as my brother said long may i stay out as, as well as Andy winning Wimbledon, the first test is under the belt, though tight I hear, Froomey is winning the tour and the British Lions success. OK guys I will stay here!!

Raining and thunderstorms in the evening! Invited into a caravan for cover, coffee made by the kids, chocolate biscuits offered (politely declined though they looked so nice) and left alone to wait for the rain to stop with the television on, watched the masterchef for patisserie experts. How nice. Left them a message of thanks in French, hopefully it made sense and i didn't say anything untoward :)

Day 11to day 12 Do you want to go to the seaside?!! Les Metiers to Notre dame de monts about 35km.

Nice cycle today. Le vendee so flat at times it makes east Anglia look positively alpine, muscles production and salt the local industry. Lunch stop at boulin which obviously has a strong pride in this history, with a lovely feel to it and great pics of the old town and historical events around the church.  At times again reminded us of local to Morecambe around the salt marshes of the Fylde around pilling and as windy!!! Then as we headed to nourmoutier-en-isle we suddenly realised that we had to actually cycle across the causeway, only accessible at low tide, which it luckily was. About three km long and descended upon by cockles of all shapes, ages and genders. Quite surreal cycle. Onto the isle and, I think, a coffee was served to us by a relative of the guy in Lourreux Beconnais as a similar customer manner was used. Then off the island to some lovely cycling through man made woodland along the coast to Notre dame. Found all lovely municipal campsite for 14 euro, much better in every way to last one and with a gorge beach to be savioured the decision to stay 2 nights, a little rest was in order :-) with a bottle of 2 euro wine on the beach with just an army of flies for company we watched the sunset

Second day on the beach for me and three paintings for Dave. And a little retail therapy for the desperately needed new bikini for me and short speedos for dave to enable swimming in swimming pools with some flip flops to complete his summer look.

Day 10 Belle Riviere to Les Moutiers about 60km (aka too far!!!)

Woke up to find two thefts had occurred. Teabags routed out of the food bag, though tossed aside, even the magpies realise that even though the box says Tetleys, they are not really and more disturbingly my favourite chami, nice cerise ones, from the line!!! Luckily they did leave my cycling gear etc, which makes me come to conclusion there was a slightly inappropriate motive behind the theft :/ Anyway after the shock, packed up and headed off for what was a bit of a bland ride. Whether in the middle of France or  the middle of anywhere cycling through a major city is much the same, an endurance test, though there is a nice side to nantes i am sure, then through a rather large industrial estate. The nice thing was the lovely jasmine like smell that pervaded  the air, though i think it was from blossom on the trees. Past Nantes we did see a property with river views, needing renovation but thought against it (photo below) We then crossed the river on a ferry and headed towards  the west coast rather than keeping to the cycle route. A hot 35km brought us to  Le Metiers and after booking into L'Hermitage camp site (pretty steep at 20euro) we realised that camping in the dunes near to an estuary was not a good idea. Sand flies abounded, and the bay reminded us very much of our home town with the sea in the distance. The night was an interesting one as we attempted to sleep accompanied by a present day Charles asnevour (he was really good) then at 11 a firework display which did feel right over our tent and  the worst thing, europop disco until midnight. However once all ended slept very well.

Day 9 La chapelle St florent to camp site belle Riviere  at Thouare 42km

After great nights sleep we set off along the loire to Ancenis where the weekly market appeared to be in progress, a potter round indicated that except for the live fowl available was quite similar to Morecambe market however with a covered area which did have some great farmers produce and fish stalls. A shopping stop and picnic of the usual Camembert, tomatoes , avocado and yet another tin of tuna and we continued along the fab loire cycle track to the brilliant camp site, recommended by the very helpful girl at St Florent, of Belle Riviere. We could easily have forgone this without her input. A real backpacker special with book swap (unfortunately all French books) the ability to dry ones clothes on a real washing line and a generally relaxed feel. A bit more expensive at 13euros and after a nervous time where i thought the charger or the tablet had broken but then realised we had to pay for electricity 2.80 euro but going to charge all up  to the hilt to prepare us for the next while. The place has a fridge so a trip (slightly scarey one but don't want to frighten the parents explaining why) to the supermarche we got some beers for the evening, cheap as chips :) Little table in the tent site made it a very comfy evening meal, a site to be recommended.

         
Day 8 Vern D'Anjou to the River Loire hopefully. about 40km

Up nice and early, good night despite the frogs chorus in the night. No wonder frogs legs are huge in France cos the actual legs must be huge, only seen one at a distance but they look like they would give a cane toad a bit of a beating. Also seen pretty big white snails so it all makes sense. Handed key back to Anthony the impossibly happy patron even at 8am and with a wave good bye to the lady of the camp who came to our aid and the grounds-woman/cleaner as she cycled cheerfully in off we went. Sat, after 10km cycle at le Louroux-Beconnais where the cafe owner has somewhat balanced out the cheerfulness stakes.

11.45 Montjean sur Loire. A gorgeous 28km ride to here on the Loire  with a little elevenses at villemaisons. The cycling is getting easier by the day and now with the next week or son along the Loire and round and down the coast we should make great time. 15km to go the La chapelle St Florent, where we are reliably informed by yet another knowledgeable and friendly office de tourisme person, we are booked in for a night for 10euro 70cents (expensive now comparitively :-)) It cannot be described how brilliant the cycling is and how day by day one becomes more relaxed. And to anyone out there with aches and pains, give up the day job, camp on a camping mat and cycle through France, that will sort out neck/back/wrist pain, a treat :-) :-)

David did a painting of the Pont de Montjean then 15km cycle to Fontaine. Lovely campsite 10euro and a bargain at that. Potter into old town, just a few bar really but nice. Had beer on side of the Loire, thought it would be extortionate but just same as anywhere else.

Day 7 La Selle Craonnaise to Vern d'Anjou via Renaze 38km

Up early conscious of no ability to have porridge or a cup of tea! Back to Selle but shops still shut at 8.30 therefore headed to Rezere for sustenance and gas canisters YAY to be found at a kind of B&Q - blocmarche for future reference. Cycled then to Segre, pretty town with an office de tourisme that even exceeded friendliness stakes previously encountered, even offered us a nice shady spot for a picnic behind the office!!!!! We declined but how nice. Identified a campsite about 10km away down an orange road (they are OK) but so very nearly got on a horrid red road (they are MAL). Anyway lovely straight undulating road to Vern and the municipal campsite. A bit bizzare just a few campers parked on the side of a football pitch. We must have looked like locals as some kids asked us how to get into the tennis courts. No sign of an accuel so wandered about and then approached by a lady from one of the caravans. She luckily had the organiser on touch dial, though no answer and just told us to pick a spot. 30 Mins later another super friendly chap and a women in high viz approached us, obviously the patron and for some reason the grounds person???? Lots of handshaking with both and the deal was done 4euros and 80cents!!!!!! Oh my lord, I know its basic but wow, very happy. Just have shopped for the evening meal going to put mini steamer to test and have some veggies and salmon, picture to follow hopefully.

Steamer activity needs some working on, doesn't cook as at home but nice to have veggies, though in stages:-) Dave painted for the first time tonight.

Day 6 St Berthevin to la selle Craonnaise 45km

Lovely cycle down the voires verts yet again, nicely shaded and much less stoney. The old train routes. So organised and pretty and FLAT :-) Read paper bought by the E'cosse to commemorate the win by Andy at little cafe and epicerie and post office at Ahuille we think ( a man with everything covered). Picked up stores. Continued down to Craon via beautiful picnic area(see photo) and did the usual cycle round in circles to find the tourist office (closed 12 - 3pm) as all good places are which is unfortunate as we seem to always arrive at the crucial places at this time - damn. Continued to la selle Craonnaise which was completely closed for the day! so without any real food continued to the campsite 3 km away. A mix up with interpretation of the signs we entered a farm yard thinking perhaps the right place but the three huge dogs (unchained :/!!!) quickly had us on our way luckily in the right direction to the campsite next to a water sports area where we got a pitch for 11 euro. nice shady spot. Unfortunately no shop but we rustled up the remnants of our food sac just before the gas ran  out. Supplemented as I type with a plate of chips and 2 beers (keeping on budget somehow with a squirreled away 10 euro of dave's?????)