Grey and windy but no rain and warmer than yesterday as it's 20C. A couple of visitors have arrived by 10:00 when we leave our spot between the ranks and files of poplar trees. Our trip starts along the south bank of the Loire to Usse where we stop in the chateau carpark next to a transporter full of 2CVs. Today is a recce for a possible future trip to the Loire region, not chateau visiting so after a few photos we continue along the leafy road with occasi...

We have no sooner arrived in the Loire region and the rains come [as predicted by Nick W a week ago] Also the temperature as we get up is only 16C, so it's jumpers and coats as we head for the museum. Maurice Dufresne, born 1930, was a blacksmith and supplier of farming equipment, with a passion for machinery. In 1983 he acquired the mill at Marnay and established a museum for his collection which now exceeds 3000 exhibits. The first section, outdoors...

We sleep right through to 08:00 and wake to clear skies, or what we can see of the sky through the jungle of tee shirts and undies hanging all around to air. After breakfast it all gets put away and the inside gets a good clean and tidy. We are delayed leaving the pitch by chatting to an English couple camping with their young daughter, and thus just beaten to the service point by a Frenchman who would make a sloth look like Usain Bolt. Eventually he is do...

Cooler weather this morning but Ali is hot under the collar and very frustrated. Despite doing one load of washing at the gite on Monday it was only half then and the pile keeps building. Then she finds an animal has been through the rubbish bin. To top it all the batteries are running low so she can't have a much wanted shower. We need a campsite for a day. Camping Rejellant is 112 miles north in Ruffec; a phone call confirms that they have space for on...

Slow to wake this morning but there is a bright blue sky and a pleasant 22C on the weather station. Claudie is unloading her van and comes to say hello when we open up. She didn't get home from the market until 01:30 as all the traders have to pack up the tables and clear the square. As we get ready to leave she tells Ali to help herself from the herb garden if we need any, so we pick a few sprigs of basil. Such a welcomig and generous host. We decid...