Lots of birdsong again and a lovely sunrise.

We say goodbye and make the short drive to Carrouges to visit its chateau. We've seen it briefly before, passing through on a drizzly evening but today we want a proper look.

The impressive gatehouse has four turrets topped with witches hat rooves and walls built of red brick with diamond patterns of black brick. Passing through the arched gate we come to the huge grounds and the chateau which is also predominantly brick. A moat with stone balustrades surrounds the expansive building that was home to the same family for over 450 years, up until the last residents in 1936. There are decorative iron railings and gates, a formal box garden not yet at its best, and small wooden windows in the outer walls.

A bridge over the moat leads through an archway into the courtyard where all the woodwork is painted creamy yellow and the walls are hung with wisteria. The man in the ticket office says it is only possible to visit the inside of the chateau by guided tour and the next one is 14:00. It's now 12:15 and we are the only visitors but times are apparently fixed and we're not hanging around that long.

Back in the van we have a quick sandwich and consider where to aim for for tonight. No more passions, most of those in reach are more cidre farms and we is cidered right up. Some of the aires are uninspiring but we find one a couple of hours away at Melle, and we need an aire as we haven't dropped and topped our fluids since Honfleur.

Returning to wide, smooth, straight roads is welcome as we pass through familiar places like Le Ferte Mace and Domfront. As we are driving slowly through the village of St-Mars-d'Egrenne we spot signs for a service point so decide to turn in there and empty out. The aire is on the edge of a small housing estate with 4 spaces, free services and, even better free electricity. We consider our options, decide this is good and plug in to the pillar. Ali pops along to the town but, to use our nephew's phrase, it was probably a one horse town before the horse died.

Later in the afternoon we are joined by a French motorhome. The mowers in the gardens stop, kids go in for their tea and we have a peaceful evening.