The Sunday morning drive down to Loches along the quiet, smooth pothole-free toll roads of Brittany was about as pleasant a drive as you can get. Why can’t we build roads like this back home?
With just a couple of stops on the way at the largely deserted roadside aires we arrived at the Camping La Citadelle not long after lunchtime.
Half expecting to be to be turned away because of our Government’s recent assault on Gallic pride with its introduction of the 14 day quarantine we were, in fact, given a warm welcome..
The site which has the Indre, a tributary of the Loire, running alongside is beautiful with flat, grassy pitches neatly partitioned by hedges.
We efficiently set up camp going about our various tasks which have now become second nature – bikes off rack, electric plugged in, awning out, chairs and table set up etc.
Soon I had a gin & tonic in hand and was pleased to see another British couple arrive though disconcertingly they were rushing off home to catch their ferry a day early.
They told us that the site, which was no more than a quarter full, is usually packed at this time of year and as we walked into town it was clear why.
A steep climb took us up towards the town’s historic centre where we soon came across the Collegiate Church of Saint Ours. This includes the intricately carved tomb of the Lady of Beauty Agnes Sorrell, the favourite of King Charles VII.
Soon we came across the imposing 44 m high keep built in the 11th century. From here there were some great views of the town, river and surrounding countryside.
For a while we had a drink at a cool terrace before heading down the hill into an area of typically French bars and restaurants.
It was quiet but there was still a buzz about the place. Slowly the feeling washed over us that we had, after all, made the right decision to get away to France.