Day 6 Sancerre to Decize

86 km (53 miles) day, 422 miles total. 
A short day due to needing to find a place where I could guarantee I’d be able to watch the England vs Croatia semi-final. It was mostly cloudy all day, with only the occasional burst of sun. This made the choice of fashion wear difficult as it was cool in the wind and boiling when the sun came out. My legs have started to toughen up, I have had no night cramps for the last two evenings. It was a painful problem for the early days and I’m glad that they’re gone although still get the occasional threat. What remains is a strange problem on the inside of my right ankle where my sandal strap seems to have rubbed. No pain when cycling but as soon as I’m in my sleeping bag, very sharp, stabbing pain just in that spot every minute or so, just for a second. Go figure.  Not sure if it stopped or I just fall asleep in spite of it. I’ve now covered the spot with duct-tape during the cycling and I’ll see what happens. Today was the least interesting so far.  Bike track pretty much all of the day. Stopped for coffee at a cafe around 11 and met a nice Australian cycling couple from Wagga Wagga who were on a three month tour of Europe. Otherwise, the only point of interest in the entire day was Nevers - which was not that exciting. I don’t know what stone was used to construct the old buildings but it is crumbling and lots of them are being repaired. Couldn’t get a photo angle on the Cathedral which has a Gothic face and a Romanesque backside! I spent the rest of the afternoon back on the Canal Latéral à la Loire. More locks and leisure boats than previously. The boats in the picture both had British crews. It was strange to see a sea-going yacht on the canal (a a very long way from the sea) with his mast lowered! Pulled into the shockingly bad one-star (really?) hotel that guaranteed a tv for the game.  Now sitting in the sun on the terrace of the associated bar, showered, and writing this. Pretty content and strangely relaxed about the game. I’ll publish the evenings events, including the result, tomorrow. May the best team on the day win (Croatia are my second choice to win the World Cup in any event). 🤞 

Wagga Waggians


Best (only) shots of Nevers






Shades of Nelson. The English fleet. 


The price of guaranteed football viewing (my room is the one with the blue door next to the highway)




Clean and content (with the early evening sun in my eyes)




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