Back on Line, Still on Track

The Kindle running out of its monthly 3G allowance ( I didn't know there was one but it's 50mb) and lack of wifi means I'm now a few days behind.
Le Pre du Mars site was without a doubt the best in terms of "coolness" that we have stayed on so far.
The communal dinner arranged on Friday evening was intended to get people together and mixing. This was arranged by Eric the owner who qualifies to be described as interesting in a good way, mostly.
We ate with Danes, Dutch, Polish, French and us. A good evening finished off with a long discussion about cultural differences with Eric at the bar.
The next two says were spend relaxing in the sun. The storms never really arrived and it was very warm.
On Saturday evening after we had eaten we were invited for coffee at our Dutch neighbours. I have to apologise to Conny and Fons for drinking all their wine and coffee and eating all their lovely butter cake. Never invite hungry bike tourers for coffee if you want to still have food left.
Fons humbled my riding efforts with recounting his 5 times up Alpes d'Huez in one day for breast cancer charity accompanied on one ascent by his 12 year old son. Left at 1am just as all the campsite lights including the toilets went out.
Sunday the weather was even better so we lay around (again) swam in the Loire checked over the bikes and cooked with the Honeystove on the river bank.

Packed up Monday morning and said our goodbyes.
Conny and Fons, your children and Morris, if you do read this, thanks for a lovely few days and your help with charging batteries and blowing up tyres. We owe you cake and wine.
Monday's ride took us into Le Puy where we glimpsed the monuments but it was very busy so we went straight through. The road South out of the town took us up the steepest hill so far, at midday typically.
Reached Le Monastier sur Gazeille after just under 50k.
Nice site by a small etang. Lots of backpackers around as we were on the Robert Louis Stevenson trail. A donkey would have been useful as the campsite was down a long very steep hill. This was great going down but played on our minds as it meant the next riding day would start with a big climb before we even began the route and the next day was going to be the biggest climbing day of the whole trip.
We spend the evening eating, resting and deciding whether to stay a day or go. We decided eventually to go and get it over with.
Although Tuesday was going to be very hot the tent was saturated with condensation in the morning. Packed and set off by 9.
We were right to be worried about the climb back to the village. 100m of climbing in a kilometre. Sue had to push one small part, too steep with cold muscles. Looked round the town to recover before starting the ride

proper.
A hard day but through some of finest scenery so far. 3 big climbs and we crossed the Loire again, this time for the last time I think. Followed the D500 all the way to Pradelles where we stopped to look round the old town and then onto Langogne where we shopped.
Just for fun we then went up a steep hill then down a steep hill to the campsite reception at Naussac then up an almost unrideable hill up to the camp field. Do these people not think about people on bikes?
Tent up, off the to pool were we stayed reading in the evening sun till 8.30.
Sausages, salad, lentils and chocolate and a warm feeling of accomplishment. 50k and just under 1000m of climbing. We're now in the Ardeche.
We're both starting to feel that this is now less of a holiday and more of a different way of living. I suppose the good weather helps but we could just keep going and never stop.