Monday 27th July

We are staying in a 16th century former water mill. Most of the ground floor is now a tack room for the riding school, but most of the gubbins is still in, among the saddles and balnkets.

We have a room and bathroom off the tack room, is is basic, but fine.

But there are flies everywhere, probabl from the horse egss that twenty or so horses produce daily.

In some ways, I'll be glad to leave.

But the host is great, the food is good and half litre of vin de table is €5.

Day eight of the road trip, though not much travel today, as have a day with nothing planned.

We lay in bed until gone seven, then up for a shower and get dressed, before crossing the courtyard to the main building for breakfast.

Breakfast was bread and preserves, and what could be best described as builder's coffee. Strong enough to stand your spoon up in!

At ten we went out, taking the paved lane to the main road, then west to see where it would take us: maybe to a wood which we could explore or take things easy and read in.

We drove for about half an hour until we came to the banks of the Loire. Sadly, the bridge was closed for repairs, but on the walk to it I saw and snapped several familiar wild flowers, and on the river bank saw and tried to snap White-legged and Blue-tailed damsels.

We walked back up the lane, in what was now quite heavy rain.

Yes, you heard that right, so heavy we took shelter halfway up the lane.

A little further along was a larger town, with an open bridge over the river.

Beside the river was a restaurant, which, after a search online was Michelin, and courses cost over €300.

We drove on.

On the way back to the farmhouse we stopped off at a supermarket and bought supplies. Chocolate covered waffles only came in packs of eight, so I guess that was four each.

Finally we saw the tower of an interesting church, D'Anzy-le-Duc, so stopped of.

And in doing so came across one of the most amazing Burgundian Romanesque churches in France. I only had my mobile, but the shots came out fine I believe.

We lazed around the mill, eat lunch, read some and watch wildlife in the mill pond. I saw four kingfishers, and Jools saw a grass snake swimming.

We ate on the terrace, sipping cheap wine poured from a jug, and ate creamy chicken and garlictomatoes, while abovw,swallows and swifts wheeled and clicked for our entertainment, and in the distance a Turtle dove purred.