Maybe Etang Neuf is busy in summer but today it is one of those places that feels less populated than the south pole. The snow has gone and it’s a balmy 4C as we set off along attractive green countryside towards Corlay where Ali buys milk and bread.
We have a good journey down the N12 with a lunch break at Carmoran aire de repose. As we park we see a chap sitting in the passenger seat of his car strumming his guitar and singing. We make up a song for him:

I got up this morning an’ I thought ain’t it a nice day
I got into my car and drove it down the motorway
Sittin’ in my car, I’m strummin’ my guitar
An’ hey presto
I got the aire de resto blu-hues….. yeah!

Skirting Rennes, normally quite busy, is easy today and as we head south the temperature creeps up to 9C. We notice blossom and catkins that were not present in Brittany, and tiny tinges of green on some hedgerows.
We debate a selection of aires and choose the lakeside aire in Nozay, which we know has electricity from a previous stay here. The remaining afternoon is bright and sunny.
Being so much warmer we would have been fine in any of the other aires without power, but having it is a luxury now and then and saves using our gas.
Ali cooks pork and cider casserole for dinner.