Oucques La Nouvelle - 10 May 2022

Tuesday, 10 May 2022 - Oucques

Pleased to say it cooled off sufficiently to enable sleep last night!

We knew we needed to service Dave and go shopping today, but we were close enough to Blois to pay a visit.

I was driving today, but lost track of for how long, because it’s been a bit stop and start!

Found a park4night carpark on outskirts of Blois, and had a nice cycle in, was only 3.5 miles there and back.

The whole place had a nice feel to it. First stop was the Tourist Information office as usual!

The Château was nearby, we peered through some gates, looked lovely - but felt it was too hot for sightseeing! Dave had the outside temperature as 31° - did go up to 33° when I was driving - it’s only May!

Anyway! we wandered around the town, good mixture of old architecture and modern shops.

Walked up to the cathedral of Saint-Louis. As ever, huge, with rather nice stained glass windows.

The best part were the gardens below (Jardins de L’Evéché). The smell was amazing - masses of rose bushes everywhere! Well maintained, a bit hot for the sole gardener today!

Back to Dave, his internal temperature had gone from a nice 21° to 27°, as there was nowhere to park in the shade.  We had left Dave totally closed, with all blinds shut as an experiment to see if it was better than leaving the hatches open with blinds drawn - the jury is still out!

So I then drove for about 20 minutes to a Carrefour as we wanted some more fruit for breakfast and more milk etc. We had thought about putting a load of washing in whilst shopping, as someone (!) doesn’t have enough T-shirts to last our holiday. I have plenty! It’s gone up from €8 to €10 for one load. Upon inspection, we don’t have 8kg, let alone 18kg to wash so decided we’d do our laundry in our ‘washing machine’ - as long as we have enough water.

I then drove for about 20 minutes so that we could service Dave. Brilliant water pressure. Tintin even washed off the solar panels as we’re sure the roof is very dusty.

It was too hot, with no shade to stay there. We found a nice sounding place, again on park4night, called Averdon, by a lake - with shade in the trees. Another 15 minutes or so drive, no shade, right on the road, and very sloping - no good!  Then another 15 minutes or so to a place called Maves, which was supposed to have shady parking under trees in front of the church. Maybe for cars! Tintin has updated the reviews for both these places.

We’re now at Oucques in a large carpark, flat and now in shade - wasn’t earlier. We’ve opened every window and the door - and have a very pleasant breeze blowing through. 7.30pm, and still 27° inside!

We’re toying with being in a different region in France, but maybe we haven’t been here for a reason! I suppose rivers and canals make for better riding experiences than dusty roads with fields everywhere!

Tomorrow, think we’ll head north towards Chateaudun - and then who knows. Before coming home, we may visit Monet’s Normandy.

Any suggestions gratefully received!