France 4

The fist 2 days out from Beaugency are great, first of all the weather improved, it is getting much warmer, the sun is out most of the day. The contour of the land is flatter and only at the end of the second day does it rise again.
The first stop is at Romorantin-Lanthenay, where we arrived early and found the hotel on a motorway intersection after riding along a long straight road through the old town.
The hotel was shut with a notice saying that checking in would be at 5 pm.
We sat on the terrace in front, put up the sun umbrella and after getting a couple of cans of beer and a coke, we had our lunch and relaxed.
The hotel when it opened gave us a bit of a shock, first the receptionist than the room, which had a few maintenance defects, and a toilet/shower/handbasin arrangement along one wall. A moulded fibreglass unit one would find in a train or on a ship.
But who's complaining for € 44.00 !
The next day was another glorious ride to Buzancais, with Veronica singing behind me, and twice telling me to speed up a bit ! That will keep for when we get into the hills.
We passed quite a few lakes, some small Chateaux and many patches of forest. The farms are much smaller here and the soil has changed from chalky the a brown and reddish clay.
We climbed a bit into Buzancais, a sign of things to come perhaps.
The town has a small river flowing through it, and an early watermill was constructed across it. Unfortunately it was closed and despite it being the holiday season there are very few tourists about. We had a good walk to the supermarket on the edge of town to stock up with emergency rations for the days ahead. The hotel was interesting, a family run establishment, with a very good restaurant, one of the best so far. I am enjoying the half bottle of red wine I sample with the meals and will soon have to go on a diet.
The ride to Bonnat ( day 17 on the bike) was a prelude to the next 11 days to come before we arrive at our destination. We climbed 836 m, with a few huffs, puffs and drink stops but Veronica did very well, and was still telling me what to do by the time we arrived in a lovely hotel called L'Orangerie for a well earned rest day by the pool. It is hard to believe but on Sunday there were only 4 guests in the place.
The area we have entered is where the foothills of the pyrenees meet the foothills of the central massif. We will cross them in a south easterly direction, going due east for the last few days. That's the plan !
We have now covered 1,083.5 km and climbed a total of 6,513 m, celebrated with a glass of champagne before dinner.

Don't steal my vegies !

Romoratin-Lathanay

Scrapmetal Knight

 Bonnat

Hotel L'Orangerie.