Day 5 Tue 20 Aug ‘91 Sablé to Saumur

Left at 0930 this morning. Hot in the sun, cool in the shade. It was to be the start of another hot day. So, on went the coconut suntan oil. Pooh! “Elephants love it!” as Penny had said. We rode to the town centre and bought two apple pastries after eating nectarines and bananas and tea for breakfast. Then off onto some smooth, flat and quiet roads to Durtal and Baugé. 

Stopped in Durtal for some lunch. Went to market and bought some goats cheese, bread, tomatoes, nectarines and bananas. Old town with chateau in the centre. Some men on a knife stall commented that “Vous etes tres courageux!” But one commented that he would prefer to stay here and buy some cold beers. But that we must send him a post card when we got there.

We left and, as usual, stopped a few kms out of town for lunch up a side road in the shade. I had a quick kip while Dan wrote addresses into his address book. Stopped at 1pm and left just after 3. Still hot and carried on past Baugé. Roads are long, straight and tedious after lunch. This morning the roads interesting and rural. 

From Baugé, we rode along a busy road to Saumur via Longue where we bought supper. Had a pint of full cream milk again. Feeling hot and headachy at this stage.  Shot off to Saumur along a very fast road. Skipping along, cruising at about 22kmh easily. Came into a campsite on an island which was packed with Dutch cyclists on some sort of package tour. 

Put tent up next to a French couple who were very nice. They were on a motorcycle tour (BMW) and touring for a month. He showed a few places to go in Saumur such as the caves. We offered them some tea. He said he’d try some in the morning. ­­­We shall see! Had supper of tinned mackerel, tinned plum tomatoes, rice, melon, vanilla and chocolate mousse and tea. 

I’m enjoying myself more and more each day. But I think about Penny a lot. God, I miss her. I hope I see her in Algeciras. 18 months seems an enormous amount of time [to be away from Penny] but I am sure it will pass quickly. I hope Penny will wait. .

Distance 83.16kms Average Speed 9.6kmh Time 8hrs 38mins