Ferries, flat tyres and ferocious wind

Wi-fi does not appear to be working so am writing this and will post tomorrow (hopefully). Got off to a reasonably early start (it isn't really light enough to ride until well after 7.00am so no really early mornings). Started sunny and then got really misty, to he extent we needed lights and reflective jackets. This was fortunately short lived as the sun soon burnt the mist off. Our 50 mile day became a 72 mile day due to a last minute wobble about riding over he St Nazaire road bridge - a notoriously dodgy exercise if people are to be believed. Our most sensible alternative was to head south east to hit the Loire estuary further inland and then take the free ferry across to the south bank. 

We needed 2 bananas for lunch (otherwise we had only some day old baguette) and I made the mistake of venturing in to a hypermarket on Sat morning. I only did this because it was the only shop we passed, but starvation soon seemed to be the lesser of 2 evils. Suffice it to say that if you have ever been frustrated with self service checkouts in the UK, try one in France when your French is basic and you have forgotten to weigh the fruit ( or in my case were not aware you were supposed to). After this delay the Mechanic found his rear tyre was a bit soft - a slow puncture was diagnosed - so we did a 'pump and run' to get us across on the ferry before changing the tube. Just about made it OK, but by the time we had put a new tube in and had some lunch the winds had gathered force and we were riding straight into the teeth of a gale for the afternoon.

Talking of lunch - I bought 2 coffee eclairs as a treat for lunch, but then discovered that breaking into the packaging required a small charge of dynamite or a sharp knife, neither of which I had to hand. While trying to force entry to the multiple layers of pre-formed plastic I noticed the sell- by date was 2 weeks from now, which seemed quite a long time for fresh cream - at which point we discovered that our definition of a fresh cream eclair would appear to be slightly different to that in France!  While engaged in this intellectual challenge we were able to observe the indecision of 2 Italian cyclists. The crossed the Loire from south to north on he boat that we then boarded from north to south. At he last minute they came back on behind us. The chap asked what side of the estuary the Velodyssey route into Nantes was on, to which I replied that it was on the south side. We all got off and there was the sign, so off they pedalled. We were half was through changing the tube when they reappeared and got back on a boat going south to north.....!!!!!

We have very posh accommodation tonight (also rather pricey like everything else round here). To compensate we had 'dinner' in the local chippy serving (I quote) Belgian specialities. Burger and chips????  Salmon lasagne????   The chips were certainly good!  For some reason the portrait shots are now working, so a better shot of the flower filled gendarmerie, Anyone for golf?, two bods and a chateau, plus someone caught caught posing on a ferry

B