August 20, 2017
St Satur: Le Manifestation des Chiens
Last night was very noisy with a big crowd of Spanish having a party outside our windows and dogs barking, Things were somewhat explained when we went to breakfast. Everyone seemed to know each other but what was weird we were about the only couple without two big beautifully groomed dogs. What is more they seemed to be carrying around large bags of dog biscuits. Had we stumbled into a hotel where it was compulsory to have a dog and we didnt know? We continued to eat and watch - people were coming out with their luggage and dogs, the dogs went in and off they went. So I asked what was happening. The first man I asked said that he was Spanish and spoke no French but eventually I got to the root of the matter. Yesterday there had been ‘ un grand manifestation des chiens’. No wonder with that and the antique fair we had had so much trouble getting a room in Giens. The number plates on the cars told us many had come from Spain hence last nights Spanish and dog barking Party
The first part of todays route took us to Briare. It was here that we met the Canal lateral de la Loire - we were leaving Chateau country and entering canal country. At Briare there is that wonderful engineering feat the Pont de Briare that is a massive viaduct that takes the Canal de Briare high up over the Loire to join the Canal lateral de la Loire. It was built between 1890 to 1894 just a bit too late to be of any use because it was soon after this that the railways went through, rail became king and the canals began to lose their importance. We crossed it and were on a a voire vert following a déclassé canal on the north side of the river. When we reached the river a wonderful path followed along it through a couple of beautifully kept little villages and we even managed to find a coffee in one At Bonny sur Loire it was back over the river and we were to stay on this side until we reached St Satur. Sometimes we were near the canal and sometimes well away from it on the river banks - we were travelling through lots of crops, both the maize and the sunflower crops look particularly fine this year
Just before St Satur we could look up and see the vineyards of Sancerre and the town perched high on the hill - too much climbing for us. At St Satur there is a Port de Pleasance with a lot of boats tied up including 2 Aussie ones. It is an important day in St Satur today. It is the Fete de St Roche. This has attracted heaps of visitors and parking is at a premium. After we had checked into the hotel Ken walked back to see what it is all about. It consists of large open boats with about 12 in the crew and a single jouster - all are dressed up and the aim is for the jouster to knock the one in the opposing boat into the water
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
Today's ride: 60 km (37 miles)
Total: 824 km (512 miles)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 1 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 0 |