Lovely warm morning. C+P enjoy the leisure of no having to rush away from a France Passion. We say goodbye to the owners and drive back through Cravant les Coteaux, stopping at the boulangerie for bread and goodies. Pretty ride to L'ile-Bouchard to use the service point and supermarket then along more pretty roads of vineyards and farms to the chateau at Usse. We have lunch then Ali, Chris and Paul go fo 'a quick look' at the chateau. The quick look turns in...

After breakfast we plan a route and set off for Fontevraud L'Abbaye, passing some vineyards along the way. The aire is a bit tricky to find but once parked we are soon up in the main square enjoying a coffee in the sunshine, before crossing the road to visit the abbaye. We weren't quite sure what to expect there, but as we wander around we become more and more impressed at each part. In contrast to the fine white stone and classic slate of most of the complex,...

We leave St Maure le Touraine at 11:00 North then west along the north bank of the Rhone towards Chinon. It's much prettier than our last few journeys through the Loire which have been grey or rainy. We pass lots of vineyards, some with pickers at work. Nearing Chinon we are alongside the river for a while before heading through the outskirts of the town and crossing the river again to the south side. From here there are fewer vines but more trees and rolling...

Another cool morning, we'll have to start getting used to them again. It's another service day today so we head to the big supermarket on the edge of St Maure. Atfer a short wait for the machines Ali gets some washing on the go and we drive over for diesel. After the washing and tumbling is done Ali goes shopping while Nick sits in the carpark waiting. And waiting. Reads, plays music and waits some more. Ali is in the checkout queue that is being delayed by...

We wake to a lovely sunrise but the temperature has really dropped, it's only 9C outside. There is no rush to go far today, we have some emails and other internetty things to deal with. No rose beetles about firtst thing so we devise a prize for the first of us to see one. Ali wins by getting one out of the breakfast cerial cupboard and after more than an hour the score is a measly 2-2 so there are definitely fewer. It's nearly midday when we set off, although...