Day 13 60miles La Jaille-Yvon to Froulay


We both had a great night's sleep last night and woke up to the most beautiful view from the bedroom window. We've voted the hostel the best venue we've stayed at so far. Our host arrived at 8am with some fabulous fresh bread and locally produced apple juice for breakfast which sealed the deal 😜

Again it was really interesting chatting to him at breakfast and we picked up a few interesting facts. He suggested we start our ride along the river next to the hostel and promised us lots of chateaus along the way. Apparently King Louis prohibited the building of chateaus along the Loire and so the gentry built them on this river instead. 
The path along the river was pretty good for cycling and the scenery was very pleasant so we decided to continue this route rather than return to the road (which would also involve lots more climbing that neither of us felt very inclined to do!).
After about 10 miles we reached the town of Chateau Gontier and as I'd read there was a market here on Thursdays we decided to stop and take a look. We quickly hunted down the food stalls and found one making fresh galettes for Max and yes you've guessed it pain au raisin for me! Both of which were absolutely delicious. 
After this short pitstop we continued back along the river and decided to stop for a drink at the next watering hole we reached. Unfortunately this never quite materialised and so eventually we stopped and had a little mini picnic with the remainder of our secret supplies from last night.
Today's cycling has been much more sedate giving us the chance to feel like perhaps we're on holiday after all. That said, after several hours in the saddle and having decided against going for a plat du jour at a fabulous Riverside restaurant (I must stop Max talking me out of those decisions!!) we started to feel a bit jaded again. We decided to head for the next large town (Mayenne) with a view to finding somewhere to eat late afternoon. Our logic being that, as we're staying somewhere remote again tonight, this would serve as lunch and dinner combined. 
That search was in vain though and an hour later we were back on the river path heading towards the small town nearest to our destination for tonight. We arrived there around 5.30 only to find that none of the restaurants will serve food until 7pm! The sun was out and so we found a bar next to the river and had a drink to pass the time away. We were given a savoury sausage as an appetiser which didn't really appeal to me but Max quite enjoyed.
Time passed by quickly and soon we'd ordered and eaten dinner and were back on the Tandem for the final leg to our B&B for this evening. Unfortunately for us we couldn't continue with the river path and so faced a few short but punchy up and downs which came as a bit of a shock to the system!

Despite today involving less climbing than originally intended we did 15 extra miles and we're both shattered now. We'll have to come up with a plan C for tomorrow I think 😜😜

Comments

  1. Rosie9 June 2022 at 15:03

    Gosh that sounded like a long day and much mileage ... but again you made it yeh!! And thank goodness for your secret supplies. I don't understand why you didn't buy some of that fish and stick it in your pannier to barbecue later on though 😂. I do enjoy reading your tales of la journee and I chuckled a few times, particularly at the way that knife was threatening that sausage ..oooh la la! You might decide to edit this later 😄. Seriously, I am a little envious of you having this adventure and I can't wait to hear more about it, how you organised the route etc. Sleep well, ready for another adventurous and gastronomic day! 😉x

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