The previous evening we went to bed early (9.30pm) and the band playing next to the campground rocked us to sleep. It was like being at a festival and we both slept well. We had our tarp set up over the tent and it kept our tent dry from the rain during the night.

The campground had kids on a school camp but they didn’t make too much noise. It just concerned me a bit when i went to have my shower and one was having a covid test in the shower block. Nobody wears masks here and there seems to be a lot of people with bad coughs (or maybe I’m just noticing it more).

It was a nice day of cycling alongside the Loire river on cycle paths. Easy cycling, but my knee continues to give me grief on hills, especially walking up them. But we soon need to get our kms up if we are to make it back to Cherbourg before our 90 days in the EU are up.

In the afternoon, big black clouds appeared around us and I thought I heard thunder in the distance. Then big splots of rain came at us, so we stopped and waterproofed our bikes and got our rain coats handy. Then the big splots stopped barely before they started and it didn’t actually rain.

We made it to the city of Orleans and we are staying in a hotel so we can explore the town. But as soon as we got to our room, we passed out on the bed, exhausted. Not sure why we’re so tired, but we haven’t had a decent meal for almost a week.

<A little bit of history> Joan of Arc led an army to relieve Orleans from the siege it was under back in the 1400s which made her a heroine. She then continued to lead armies during the 100 year war against the Brits. She was captured by a mercenary and handed over to the English where she was tried for heresy and was burned at the stake. Some time after she was killed, the catholic church held an enquiry and pardoned her. Sorry about the sad story.</end>

At 7.30pm we walked the 15 mins into town for some dinner. We chose chicken, chips and salad and it was a huge plate for only 9 euros, and it was yumy. Just as we were finishing up, the rain finally came and it pelted it down. We had to walk back to our hotel in the torrential downpour and we got soaked. Thankfully we are in a hotel and not camping.

We did 41 kms today.