Day 4 St Loup to L’Isle Jourdain

Before last night’s dinner we had a guided tour/wedding venue sales pitch by the French owner with a very plummy English public school accent. It is a beautiful place with an interesting history but the upkeep must be ruinously expensive.
Dinner was in the village and was wonderful, although not easy to get to sleep with such a full tummy and after my afternoon nap/conk out.





The group made a decision to aim for an early start today with another sweltering day forecast. This meant breakfast at 6.35am (boulangerie opens at 6.30!) and a rollout at 7.30am. This was a great decision as the morning’s ride was delightful through more empty, beautiful countryside.





Coffee stop featured a really delicious almond croissant, considerably cheaper than Gail’s in London.

The picnic lunch was also early but we were still left with 2 more hours of riding as the temperature went up and up, reaching 36c by the end of the ride at 14.30. I kept drinking and drinking with a sloshing tummy full of electrolytes and felt mostly ok.
I’m writing this lying on the bed with the AC on full blast and a lovely, cold Orangina, to be followed by lovely, cold beer (s).



Rather a lovely location for my post nap/conk out beer.





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