Welcome to the machine, says a Pink Floyd track. Here at the Musee de Maurice Dufresne there are thousands of machines all collected by the museum's namesake over a 50 year period. From steam engines and tractors and bulldozers to factor generating plants, farm implements, tools, cars, lorries, aeroplanes, looms dating back to 1630, and a fully restored guillotine. Some are world-unique examples. There is also a water wheel working a huge press. Basically if it has wheels, wings or an engine Maurice has one of them.

After our visit the return to the vans and have lunch then set off for a short ride to Azay le Rideau.

The town is much as we remember it from a visit there in the early 1990s. Narrow street lead to the central Square where tables and chairs are laid out and people are dining in the sunshine. We park near the Chateau and Ali and Chris walk down to take a look but very little is visible without paying the admission fee.

It's only a few miles back along the road to a France Passion for the night. We reach the farmyard to find it busy with vehicles and people which, the owner tells us, is due to the business of harvesting. Normally we would be welcome to park here but not tonight. Instead, she summons her brother to lead us in his car 1km up the road to park on the vineyard itself. When we arrive he points across the landscape to describe the division of the Loire and Indre valleys. As in other vineyards, the sides of the vines are bare of grapes but large bunches hang underneath.

And, as of other recent vineyards, we enjoy a beautiful sunset.