From Keverly to Aurélien and Manon

 

 

From Sofie and Mick in Ghent to Sanne in Bruges

 After the tours, Mick and Sofie cycled with me for many kilometers.  It was nice to have company

 The wind was in our faces. Finally on top of a bridge we said our goodbyes. Mick used my camera for a picture but I noticed later it did not work. He did not press hard enough. It happens a lot. Thank you so very much for your generous hospitality Mick and Sofie. You outdid yourselves. I would recommend you to all tourerd. May God bless you.

I rode along the canal all day and passed MANY cyclists. I met Mario and Magali when I stopped for my lunch. They were out for a 10lm hike. 

I arrived at Sanne's house just before she was ready to leave with her sister to a birthday party. She quickly showed me everything and we said goodbye. I unpacked and put Silver in the garage

 I showered and did requests because when I went to do some Komoot plans it showed one of my hosts 300km away. Later I got dressed to go to the store but it started raining so I stayed and just ate some cheese and raisin bread. I tried to catch up on everything.

Sanne's living room

 A drum set in my bedroom

Keverly to Aurélien and Manon in Amiens

 

 

A car tour- Part 3

 

Our last stop of the day was the town of Sancerre which is WAY UP on a hill. From the top of the hill you look down at the town of Saint Satur with it's aquaduct that is now a road.

It is beautiful to see from such a height. The countryside is full of vineyards.

Walking along the barrier toward a bench. It was evening  and getting a little less hot.

We did a quick tour of the village.

I am thankful for the special day that Edward planned.

The town on the hill- Sancerre

Vineyards surrounding the town which is at about 450 meters high. I was glad that I wasn't on my bicycle.

Lots of grapes. We headed back to Bourges to have the late supper  that I am getting used to.

A car tour- Part 2

 

After a short drive we came to the beginning ( or end ) of the Canal Lateral à la Loire. There was a big circular basin with two doors- one from the canal and a second to the Loire. It is like a circular lock.

The view above at the Loire

Downstream view of Loire

The canal with a bicycle path beside.

The canal gets wider as  you drive along.

We stopped and watched and videoed the canal here as there is a double lock that boats have to go through to get up into the canal.

Locks 21 and 22

Way down

First lock doors

It was about 35 degrees today and everybody was in the water.

An anchor

A young man who talked with Edward while I went over the bridge to a patisserie to get something to eat.

The houseboat where an Australian acquaintance of Edward  lives.

A car tour- Part 1

Today Edward is taking me in his Citroën for a car tour of the area of the Loire where most cyclists start. 

We stopped in the village of Sagonne. On the other side of this water is the building where the women would gather to wash dishes and clothes and socialize.

Close up

The ruins of the  château du Sagonne

View across the moat

Selfie

Left view

Right view- the water was full of fish

Some of the houses of the village and the church steeple

The Château of Apremont

Today is 34 degrees and we parked the car in the shade.

I made all the cows look my way.

By the beautiful Loire

Walking along looking at all the houses

A house with a tower at the back

A rest stop

We stepped into this church where it was nice and cool.

A special pole skier sign.

The water level markers showing flooding in the past