In the Steps of Le Tour

A nice gentle start to the day,as lots of people on the Aire were moving on, or possibly just returning home after the celebratory weekend, so I decided to risk staying another night (should only really stay 48hrs !)…

and after breakfast decided I would try and re-trace the route that the tour had come into town, passing my spot, and then return along the same route as the riders did, to see how it felt – good idea ?, lets go

I rode along the lanes out of Sant Armond, towards Chateneuf sur Cher, the roads were lovely, nicely rolling up and down, and well cleaned , even recently repaired…and I rode between great fields of wheat and produce, with all sorts painted on the road…easily helping me to follow the route, as it switched between villages..

I got to, and through Chateneuf sur Cher, but as it was approaching midday, I decided to turn round, and head back…it was around this point on Friday which actually split the race,  as the cross winds were very fierce, and once a split occurred in the peloton, anyone behind it, including Chris Froome had a hard time… riding it I now understood as I battled along myself.. with just a short deviation to look at the magnificent basilica in Chateneuf , how such a small place, could build such a church I do not know ! I crept around it in my stockinged feet, hoping not to be spotted – I wasn’t

then back on the route to have a blast along the lanes back towards Sant Amand, great fun, imagining doing it with the professionals..with lots of decorations along the road, and verges , up and down I went , and all too soon approaching the final hill, before the run down into Sant Amond , and a late lunch on this fabulous free Aire…

I’ll have to move on tomorrow,probably into the Loire Valley, so until then I’ll leave you with views of my great spot…. Au Revoir, a bientot !!