Cloyes-sur-le Loir - 11 May 2022

Wednesday, 11 May 2022 - Cloyes-sur-Le-Loir via Vendôme

Last night we ate some bought tortellini with basil, Parmesan and pine nuts - still too hot to cook properly!

This morning we popped across the road in Oucques to go to the boulangerie, and a market was there!

Thought the church was a bit different than usual! Really dark inside though, and a bit smelly!

Bought a couple of leeks - €2. We’ve had this thought process before - we think that the markets seem expensive for fruit and vegetables, however they always seem to be busy…

Tintin in the driving seat today - cross country for 30 minutes. So much open green space!

First stop was Intermarche for GPL and diesel. It’s fair to say the space to fill up is designed for cars! Tintin had to reverse into a very tight space to enable us to get close enough to fill up with GPL. It’s a little bit of white man’s magic for me (like electricity!). Allegedly our gas tanks hold 30 litres of gas. Inside we have a gadget showing how many ‘blips’ we have left. 8 is around full, we were down to 2 ‘blips’ - but it was full after only 12 litres! Not sure the gauge is correct! GPL price is lower than it was in 2021 and some of 2019 - however, on the basis it only costs about €10 to fill up - it’s not really an issue 🙂

Tintin then skillfully manouvered Dave into another very tight space to fill up with diesel.

It seems everyday we’re either servicing Dave, filling him with fuel, or buying fuel for ourselves!

Decided to have a quick visit to Vendôme, the roads were getting more narrow the closer we got to the park4night park right by the castle - but all was ok!

Once there was a castle here dating back to the 9th century, of which some of the 13th-14th century towers and walls still exist. It was lovely to walk around, a lovely garden - and huge trees - see if you can spot Tintin at the bottom!

Strangely there’s a bust of Henry IV!, and another random statue! Lovely view looking out over Vendôme - it was worth the visit!

Tintin was pushing the speed limit on the N10!

Another 30 minutes or so of driving and we’re now at Cloyes-sur-Le-Loir. And no, I haven’t spelt that incorrectly - Le Loir is another river, not to be confused with Le Loire!

Once again, the temperature has been around 27°, but there’s a breeze, so doesn’t feel as hot as yesterday.

We’re in a car park next to a fairly big park. After a late lunch, we went out walking. Very peaceful. Love the two trees grafted together! Also, I like clouds, and today they were pretty.

Walked for ages and found the lake with a couple of people sailing. Wandered back to the church. Didn’t go in, as we saw the strange man sat outside a bar near the entrance. He’d knocked on Dave’s door a few times earlier, tried to give us a present of an old coin - we both repeatedly said no thanks - he was declaring his love for the English, we didn’t know if he was a harmless drunk - we’re hoping he won’t be back later.

We stopped off at a different bar for a drink before coming back and sitting in the shade of Dave to read for a while. Another 11,000 steps today. Need to enjoy the last of the sun this evening, as if the forecast for tomorrow is correct it will be cloudy all day and about 10° cooler! We’ll see.