The Semaine PiqueNique

If we thought yesterday was hot, then today was hotter than hot.
We Scots think it's t-shirt time when the thermometer reaches 16 degrees, but when it's double that and you have to cycle and climb hills with the sun beating down, then hotter than hot doesn't feel too good.

The Semaine 'pique nique' was in a forest near Échiré where it was cooler but seething with cyclists of every colour of sweaty red -never a good look.
We didn't stay too long, although the beer tent was apparently doing a roaring trade.

We were on water-at least a litre each was consumed. His Lordship who is so much better in the heat than I am, managed to eat half a baguette filled with cheese. My half with the pate is still waiting; my appetite disappeared with the heat.
It was another 15 hot, energy sapping miles before we got back to the Permanence and could order cold beer and lemonade.

It was good to return to the hotel, to an air conditioned room and a cold shower Most of the other cyclists are camping with no air conditioning and communal showers. They are the true stalwarts.