Cycle tour France - 9th June - 13th June

So the last four days. Have been too shattered to post every couple of days.  Has been a big few days with heavy duty riding ala hills. Tonight we are staying in a French Seminaire dating from 1600's. Basic little rooms, minute showers but stupendous views as on top of a hill in the town of Saint Flour. Also lovely and cool being a monastry/ seminarie, forever grateful for as riding in temps 31C/ 28C testing to say the least. We both looked liked lobsters after 109km of hills today. Quite happy with how we are chugging along, although walking a bit funny after so many hours cycling!!!

We love the French countryside with its expansive views, lush woodland and pasture. Today was constant cow bells and woodpecker calls. The livestock are superb, particularly the milking/cheese cows compared to our scrawny Fresians in NZ. Lots of haymaking in progress and many tractors, tedders on the country roads we cycle. The road surface for B, read rural roads, are very good. 

Town of Loches.

Just the most tranqil river views. Water reasonably clear, not too many gravel beds.

These seem to appear out of the woodlands at anytime.

Definitely haymaking time.

Horses cooling off by one of the many streams/ ponds we pass.

We started away off in the distance to get to the top of these volcanic rock features.

These are Limosin cattle with calves. Always took an interest in us and I always say hello.

This was our lunch stop in a little restaurant, was great food as only the French can do. Otherdays the cycle guides make a picnic on tables under trees. Always welcome.

Very wooded with deciduous trees, plenty of birdlife, fencing leaves a bit to be desired.

These are Abondance breed,

 great for cheese and yes we cycled across the top  of the hill in the background.

A random castle in the distance.

This is Jeff and I with the tour van in the background. The vans stay closeby when hot and if deviations are required. A few of the English in our group have been suffering with the heat so the cycle guides stop regularly to keep folks hydrated.

Roadside wild flowers abundant.

Matthew our icecream afficonando. Lorraine who is a gun cyclist ex International  English hockey player.