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 occasional glimpses of the river, before crossing to the north bank and passing the huge nuclear power plant at Bourgueil to get fuel and glue.

There are a few showers but generally the weather is good as we drive alongside the river on the north levee. White stone buildings abound, many with ornate mouldings and multiple turrets and towers. Crossing south at Saumur gives us grand views of the chateau and a brief drive through the city, then back to the north side for a lunch stop by the riverbank at St Clement de Levees. The water level appears low; huge sandbanks stretch out to the middle and the bare banks of the levee show how high the water is at full flood. We drive on through half a dozen small towns of white stone with steep slate rooves, pretty streets with geranium boxes and neatly decorated roundabouts. Everything is much smarter and more attractive than our last visit to the Loire valley in the mid 90s, then everything appeared drab, run down and unkempt.

Whether it's a bank holiday we don't know, but lots of things are closed an we drive right through the centre of Angers with no hold ups at all.

A few miles of dual carriageway and a few rural miles bring us to Gene and a goat farm called La Petite Fenouillere which has a small camping area with all services for €7/night. Soon after we've settled, Madame comes and asks to photograph the van to accompany a promotional article for the local paper.

A bit later Ali goes over to buy some goat's cheese and milk from the farm shop, and returns with an additional gift of two bottles of beer as a thank-you for the photographs.

The pitch is peaceful but swarming with flies but they are no match for Ali and the fly-swatter; in ten minutes the floor is covered with bodies.

A quick sweep up and lasagne for dinner while we watch the DVD about the Dufresne Museum.