I decided motorway to get back quickly
Did M6 Toll but then left M6 to take Holmes Chapel exit and then A34 from Alderley Edge.
Estimate 2200 miles of riding on the whole trip.
Monday, 13 July 2015
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Ferry to Portsmouth
I arrived early so quite a wait but it beats missing the boat in case of mishaps.
The ferry sails at 11pm and goes overnight from Caen
Normandy and Caen
As I had arrived in Normandy quite early I decided to have a bit of exploration and went up to Arromanche where part of the D day landings took place in 1944
Also I found one of the Canadian cemeteries
Riding to Normandy
I came through several changes in terrain and vegetation
Mainly the very flat wide open fields North of the Loire that have mile after mile of ripening wheat being harvested.
Further on the landscape become more rolling and passing through small villages and wooded areas.
I stopped for lunch at a local cafe in a little village in the forested area called the Parc due Perche
The riding has been more pleasurable today as it is not as hot and the roads have been quiet and open, easy progress and a relaxed lunch.
No English spoken at the cafe that was full of locals, managed to work out the menu that had a choice of 3 courses for €12.
Nothing written so it had to be spoken !
It worked out in the end!
The run through Normandy to Caen
I plan to set off late morning and take a steady run through the countryside north to Caen.
I'm not so concerned that it should present any worries as the bike has been reliable thus far. The sat nav says 178 miles and I think it's a good last day in France. The ship from Caen final boarding at 10 pm so giving me quite some scope for error. P
I checked the tyre pressures today and they were ok
I'll lube the chain again in the morning before setting off.
Meal in Chambord
The hotel is generally run on a shoestring by the look of things and a supporting factor is that the wifi didn't work and nobody could sort it out ( no manager on site! ) .
On the way to Chambord
I passed through several small towns and villages on my way to my destination in Chambord. 
My hotel is literally in the grounds
The chateaux are impressive and seem similar in architecture
This one at Sully sur Loire
Where I had lunch
( a wrap , 3 small doughnuts and a coke today , I don't splash out all the time! )
I drove further on to Chambord where the is a huge Chateau with large grounds
This is the view from the car park gates!
No wonder the peasants revolted!
The hotel looks good from the outside but inside its a bit ropey, we will have to wait to see what they cook for dinner.
Loire vineyards
I drove through the Loire region through Pouilly and then Sancerre. Crossing back and forth across the river and the Loire canal.
Sancerre
Sancerre vineyards
The vineyard seem surprisingly small appearing to be limited to the sloped areas. This is in comparison to the flatter larger areas of the valley where the fields are set over either to corn, sunflower, wheat or even farmed forest.
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
Chambers de Hotes Cotes
It is a big old French looking house with quite robust features.
The owners live here and do 2 or 3 rooms let out
It's in a great location and the fittings are really high quality as you would expect in a luxury home.
The owner allowed me to use his garage to park my bike too.
Interestingly all the locks in the house use these strange keys, one key fits all apparently. - my room , the back door , the garage and the back gate!
I'm impressed
This is the en suite with its own balcony overlooking the park
Weather has cooled down today thankfully!
Nevers
A few historic old buildings and the odd watering hole here
This little pub is just down the hill from the Theatre. It does look a bit threatening from the outside as there appear to be 3 or 4 loud heavy metal French blokes in there. However knowing that heavy metal English blokes are usually very friendly I took the plunge.
They have a selection of French and Belgian beers, certainly makes a change from the usual cafe or bar.
You don't need much French to order beer off a list !
I got speaking to a young guy who is a chemistry graduate from Limoges uni, he said he's going to Dublin for some work experience in the cosmetic industry.
Saint Bernadette
There's an old nun in Nevers who was buried in about 1880, and when they came to move her body as she became a saint in 1925 they discovered her body was still the same as the day she was buried!
Since that time she lays in a glass coffin for all to view in a small chapel.
She looks a bit like MadameTussaud's figure and they do say her face and hands are now covered with a film of wax
Pretty creepy ?
They do say she was ill for a long time before she died, I wonder if what she had slowed the degradation process ?
Clearly I have no faith but there was an Irish sister ( nun that is not a secret sister of mine from Ireland) there who kindly explained things.
There's also a grotto where you can light a candle
I don't think it's in good taste to take a photo of a dead nun so I didn't, it did say no photos but that doesn't usually prevent the odd snap does it?
I lit a candle for a patient of mine who died recently, I'd known him for over 20 years
He was a good Catholic and went to Lourdes a few times , he would have liked the St Bernadette grotto.
Dinner at Le Restaurant O Puit
This was one of the restaurants recommended by the owner of the B&B
And later dismantled
Seems like a nice place with good service , English not very evident so I have to concentrate
Please note the half bottle of wine tonight as I have already had a couple of beers and an aperitif !
It's a Loire wine, as I am here, to have within the Charolais beef ( local too) what could go wrong?
The first course was in rough translation a mushroom risotto
It was made with a cream base and the mushrooms and their juice applied
It was served with fresh bread and was tremendous, I think Sam would like this !
The second course was fillet steak with a sliver of dauphinois potato, creamed leek and a mushroom pastry
I thought it was good, but as I'm quite a connoisseur of steak I have had better, I would have liked to have said it was the best but I have to be honest, it was very good and well cooked with great taste. I thought the wine was young and tannic but went well with the food.
If you are ever this way though I can recommend this restaurant.
Morning in Argentat
A very hot night and there was no aircon.
I didn't sleep well and ended up getting up early to have a walk around
The hotel Sablier du Temps is lovely but if you go get an aircon room if it's midsummer.
There are also a couple of bistros on the waterfront near the bridge that look inviting
Monday, 6 July 2015
Dinner in Argentat at Le Sablier du Temps
This hotel is a little gem
Mille et une pierres is a mix of Cabernet Franc and merlot 
A rib eye steak with local vegetables ( I particularly like the differing sized peas)
I do think this is the best meal of the tour so far !
Not only has it a pool it also has a well appointed restaurant with an outside terrace
Clearly they are used up serving good food regularly judging by the menu
Wine list is local too
Duck breast salad
And dauphinois style potatoes , interesting as they appeared to be infused with cumin and/ or cardamom!
It seemed to work very well; this will end up being the surprise best meal of the holiday.
Dessert menu was brought and soufflé was on the menu ( cold though ) I had the Rhum Baba instead and I was not disappointed, great fresh flavours with Rum infused sponge
We will have to see if the next nights might surpass this?
PS the new bike is running well but does prefer to be revved at or above 4000rpm
It has done over 1500 miles at over 40 degrees so I'm impressed!
Arrival in Argentat
The main issue on arrival was the bridge across the river in the middle of town is closed for renovation!
Went on detour then sat nav couldn't find the street I needed
Eventually serendipity played a part and I rolled across a junction and there it was 50 yards in front of me.
It's a really good place with a pool and outside terrace and quite a big restaurant
This is the view from my window
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