18 May, 2015

After a very cold night in the tent we wake up to a heavy dew and a soaking wet tent to pack.  Fortunately, the sun is out and we can spread everything out to dry.  It doesn’t make for a quick getaway though.

Once on the road we follow a straightforward route through 5 villages before lunch.  Like yesterday we didn’t see a shop, but unlike yesterday, we had no supplies to keep us going.  We did eventually come across a boulangerie and were able to buy a baguette to eat with the half a jar of jam I have been carrying for the past week or more – I knew it would come in handy at some stage.

Refuelled, we carry on to Machecoul.  The countryside is very much like yesterday – pretty hedgerows full of cow parsley and buttercups, fields full of cereals and the odd field of cows.  The sun has disappeared by now and we are left with grey and clouds, so we power onwards.

We reach our destination just as it starts to rain putting us off the idea of camping, especially if it is as cold as last night.  A quick circuit of the town doesn’t reveal any hotels but we do see a sign pointing up the road for the Hotel Cheval Blanc.  It takes a bit of finding but when we do we get a nice cosy room just as the heavens open and it really starts to pour with rain.  Tomorrow we’ll reach the Loire, which is exciting.  Just hoping the weather doesn’t let us down.