Another day in France and another great day's cycling. I can't believe my luck - I seem to be blessed with my own micro-climate which involves both dry weather and wind from the west pushing me up the Loire valley. Can't help but think that I'm accumulating a huge debt, which will have to be paid back sometime, perhaps the day after tomorrow when I reach Orleans and turn north.
Of course I'm not the only person benefiting, there are loads of other cyclists doing the route, huge numbers compared to the long distance hikes I'm used to. Nearly all of them are heading west, into the wind, with great loads on their bikes and often pulling trolleys - looks hard work to me.
Today's route was also fast, most of it along empty country roads are hardly any of the rough tracks which was starting to cause even my well padded derriere some grief. It was nicely mixed as well, winding country lanes, long flat and straight stretches, where you just hammer along, as well paths which went right along the River Loire itself.
