Before the sun woke up the temperature was only 19C and it is feeling much fresher this morning. We get up at Sunday speed and have very leisurely morning. A bit after midday Ali assembles her bike and we trundle off to the lake. It's a very different atmosphere today with families and groups setting up tables and chairs for picnics. There are fewer people on the beach, but more joggers and cyclists. This is a terrific recreational area; as well as the...

A soft mist hides the distant fields this morning but it soon burns off as the sun climbs and threatens another scorcher. We say goodbye and set off towards Le Mans, continuing a reverse run of 2014 when we visited the Le Mans car museum. The roads are long and straight with not much traffic and we make good progress, including a stop at an Intermarche for fuel and food. The north circular around Le Mans is easy and once west of that landmark it's 22 easy miles ...