Owner:
squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3071
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12th September 2014
Mt. Biking: Briare Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny Max Speed: Distance Covered:
Friday 12th September – Bike ride ***** Briare to Beulieu
Leisurely start then a brilliant long bike ride – over 20 miles. We
left the van in Briare about 11.15 and headed to the River Loire, we biked
up and over the aquaduct and carried on along the tow path to Chatillon sur
Loire. We had a look at the old part of the village which was up a very
steep hill and I had a look in the church. Back on the bikes, round the
basin where a huge hotel barge was turning round. Very pretty with the old
buildings in the distance. This part of the tow path was very bumpy and
grassy – think the proper path was the other side of the canal! Came out
near the Martelot Lock with its old disused lock and bridge. The path then
went along the bank of the Loire with some strange sculptures and then came
to the Garston Nature Reserve. We biked through the woods and found a path
down to the sandy bank of the Loire opposite Ousson sur Loire. We had to
cross a small stream via old tree trunks which was a bit of an obstacle!
We did our yoga exercises and had lunch here with the sound of rushing
water as there is a weir just up river. After lunch we read our books and
dozed. Carried on through the nature reserve which ended with a ford to
cross but luckily there was a bank and a small bridge for us! The next
part of the route was along a beautiful country lane with a stream running
along the side. We past yet more water, a lake I think and finally came out
onto the road linking Bonny and Beulieu sur Loire. Thought we had better
go to the sign for Beulieu just to say we had completed the route then back
and over the suspension bridge to Bonny sur Loire. Cycle paths all the
way back past many streams and finishing off along the disused Canal
Lateral from Les Comble lock to Briare. We have seen several kingfishers
today, the best one flew through a patch of sunlight and we saw all his
colours:) We stopped at the Patisserie for bread and a pain aux raisin:)
Our neighbour, who lives in his camper on the quay and who we met last time
we were here offered his key to the showers to let ourselves in after 8
when the Capitainaire had gone home! We had our tea then went and tried
the key in all the doors before we found the shower block. Really enjoyed
a hot shower before returning to the van for the evening. We fed our
little cat with bits of spam and milk:) Another great day:)
Saturday 13th September
We left lovely Briare via Lidl and Intermarche and drove down to Moulins
(which means Mills but we didn’t see one!). Stopped for lunch on the
banks of the river l’Allier. We walked over the bridge towards the town
and saw a kingfisher:) Headed for the ancient town but it was a little
disappointing and apart from two huge cathedral style churches it was
pretty dull. Headed back to the van and carried on to Puy Guillaume and
drove up a steep wooded road which followed the la credogne river and
gorge. Our map had one blue star marking the spot of the Cascade du Creux
Saillant and we thought it would make a good place to stop for the night.
This proved correct but the cascade was rather disappointing compared to
our previous cascade finds. Lovely sound of rushing water though so not so
bad:) Had curry for tea.
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