As alluded to in my last blog. No; I am not getting very far on my Northwards trip through France. The weather is beautiful, the back roads are empty, and you're a stronger person than me if you can manage to drive through more than two 'River Loire villages' without stopping to explore.
We had not got very far this morning from our wild spot in the woods at the junction of the 'River Vienne' which we had been following, with the mighty 'River Loire'. 'Saint Hilaire St Florent' and 'Musee du Champignon' said the sign. Now I love my mushrooms but also they grow them here in deep cool man made caves. Just the visit for such a hot day. There was even a cool shady spot to park Foxy10. Needed as I had to leave Tanya behind.
I sampled their heavenly mushroom soup before spending an absorbing hour in the cool and fascinating museum which is also a commercial and experimental enterprise. The 'Shii-takes' plus scrambled egg on toast made a delicious evening meal while the bag of 'Blewits' (good for Cholesterol you know!) will be consumed tomorrow.
...........
Didn't get far after that. Another day in a shady woodland grove followed by some more pleasant backroad dawdling and there we were, 'Chateau de Combourg'. A good shady spot to park, €3.70 to enter the estate offering both Tanya and I pleasant walking in the cool shadow of magnificent rows of mature Linden and Chestnut trees.
The blurb reads: "In Arthurian legend, it is the family home of Sir Lancelot, Breton Knight of the round table. It rests in Merlin the wizards magical forest of Broceliande and guards the mystical lake of sorceress and Fairy queen Viviane. The lady of the lake".
Well that's all well and good but I reckon our fairy queen Viviane has had her come uppance, what with all her sorcering and stuff. She has had to lie low for a while. I found her in the very pleasant village of 'Gorron' lounging about as if she owned the place, chewing on a flower and masquerading as a fully 'tits-up' fairy cow.
Sorry folks; but it was such a good foto I just had to milk it for all it was worth.....! (groan, groan.)
Ferry to UK sometime next week.
