Days ten and eleven. Beaugency to sully and then from Sully to Sancerre. 53m/85 k on each day taking cum to 530 miles / 848 km. I'm writing this in a rainy Sancerre on my rest day. Better it rains when I'm not cycling but unfortunately it looks to be likely to take two days for the weather system to clear through. I'm going to get wet on Wednesday. The trip from Beaugency to Sully was again into a headwind and often along raised roads on the levee. Flat, windy ...

Day seven was a rest day in very warm Saumur. Overnight the temperature dropped 15c and the wind turned to the north east. Not good news as that was directly into my face. On Friday I did a very (too) long day of 75 m/120 k. Got lost as I switched to my new map and then found the wind a real obstacle. I stopped to help a young French couple who had a flat but no pump. Quite why you would travel without a pump I'm not sure but in any case I was able to do my help...

Day six 72m/115k. Cum 300m/480k Long hot day. I set off in mist with my light on but it was already clear it was going to burn off and be a scorcher. (I did of course wipe my feet on the palace mat one last time prior to departure. 3-0, could easily have been 6) Weather by far the warmest so far and apparently the warmest day here since last August. I hit the Loire at lunch time, five days of cycling from Hertfordshire( 2.5 in UK, 2.5 in France) not too bad ...

Day five : 53m/85k taking cumulative to 228m/365k Further progress across Brittany but this time in cloud and some light drizzle. Lots of small villages with one shop, usually selling tractor parts rather than anything as boring as food. Craon looks a great place though so maybe I'll get dinner tonight so I can settle down and read my French copy of Combine Harvester Monthly ( it's good to blend in) Great accom tonight, converted barn in the grounds of a larg...

Day four. 46 miles/ 72 k Cumulative 176 miles/280 k First off the ferry even ahead of the trucks and with several "Bon journee's" from the deck crew. This could be because i appear to be the youngest passenger on the whole ship and one of the few not wearing grey slacks. my yellow jacket contrasts nicely. Passport check and the immigration man asked me my destination. Ithought about saying Romania but decided Vienna would not elicit as many questions. Found m...