Tuesday 28th July 2026

It was time to leave the mill and our collection of flies and other assorted biting insects.

At least the flies slept when it was dark, as did we, but the bitey buggers didn't.

Once light, we and the flies woke up, so we went to sit by the mill pond to take in the already warm sunlight.

Over the pond, the two white horses knew breakfast was coming, and so stamped about in frustration that it was taking so long.

As ever, it was a photographic oportunity.

At eight we went for breakfast. More bread and preserves, and builder's coffee.

We paid the food and bar tab, packed the last of our stuff, cleaned our teeth and chased the last of the flies out of our cases before loading the car.

And away.

The countryside is a contrast between the lush green of the trees and hedgerows and the burnt browns of the fields and gardens, as the hot hummer has killed most plants off.

In fact it is hotting up again, 33 degrees on Tuesday, and four degrees warmer on Wednesday, but we will be off into the foothills, where it will be ten degrees cooler.

We drove to the motorway, along a secondary highway, mostly dual carriageway. Once on the motorway we filled up, then into Villefranche-sur-Saône, where our next hotel was, and where we hoped to get some washing done.

I found a place near the station, and had parking nearby. So, once parked, we walked the few yards in humid temperatures to the launderette, filled a machine, then worked out how to pay and make it work.

All simple, really.

That washing, I wandered to the station to see if there were any trains going by, not many. But snapped a couple before walking back to meet with Jools, and transfer the washing into the tumble dryer.

The only choice for parking was for seven hours, so we wandered into town to look for the cathedral.

It was a ten minute walk away, down a shopping street, its spiky west tower making where it was hiding.

Inside, it was all a bit disappointing, poor glass and few memorials, in fact it seemed mostly 19th century. I took a few shots and we went looking for somewhere for lunch.

We found a place on the side of a leafy square, took a seat under the awning and we both ordered burger, and for a me, a beer.

The food was excellent, as was the people watching, but it was hot.

We huffed and puffed our way up the hill to the station, and found inside it was like an oven.

The hotel was a short drive away, a modern place that runs with minimal staff.

We check in via a machine, to find our room was possibly still occupied.

I went back to the machine, and pressed the intercom which linked me to an office probably in Paris.

After explaining the situation, I was told the manger would be informed. And in ten seconds the manager was beside me.

He went to his office, allocated us a new room with access code, and that was that.

The hotel is in the middle of an industrial estate, there are no places to eat or drink, and the hotel only has a vending machine.

But the air con is good.