Saturday, travelling

We left Saumur, travelling along the route we took on our cycle ride. We folded in the wing mirrors as we passed over the narrow bridge. Another lovely day, hot and sunny, the Loire peaceful, no watercraft and no osprey either. We were on the road most of the day, the temperature climbing as we got further and further south. We stopped for a break in the middle of the day in Angles sur le Anglin, so well known for its charm and rural attractiveness that tourists are advised, in our guide book, to keep away in summer for fear of overcrowding. We walked down between tall old stone buildings, shuttered in the French way, all decorated with baskets and pots of flowers in bright primary colours, reds and yellows especially. Pots of colour on all possible surfaces; walls, watermill gates, steps, window ledges, pavements. Waterlillies spread across a wide and cool mill pond, and we stood on the bridge above absorbed in the excellence of our ice creams, mine a glorious raspberry, framboise, his a more subtle mango.
We were very glad to arrive at Gail and Luigi's home, welcomed
with a long cold drink, and a delicious meal outside in the cool of the evening. The house, gites and garden are all marvellous, so much work and creative energy has gone into the making of them and the results are stunning.