Marcilly-le-Hayer - Beaulieu-sur-Loire

 Friday 1 August

 Here at Marcilly-le-Hayer, 

 

there are two dolmen on the hillside - Neolithic tombs that the farmer has to plant his crops around.  We set off in cloudy (but fairly light) weather to walk up the hill to the first dolmen.  As we reached it, the dark cloud came over us and so we climbed into it to shelter in the very heavy shower!  This empty picture was taken ten minutes later.

 

 It was easier to get in rather than get up out of it!!


This is the 2nd dolmen higher up and across the field - somehow couldn't miss the colour of this cloud either so decided not to go closer .... 
... but to start out on our way back down.  This time, though, it stayed in the valley and we were able to continue back down in the dry.

Some of the wild flowers bordering the fields of crops.
Later in the day, our very good friends, Barbara and Tilman (met many years ago in Horsham Lions twinning with Wiesbaden, Germany) arrived at the campsite to spend a week with us in their hired campervan.

John spent a very happy hour or so with Tilman understanding the information that came with the van, but actually belonging to a different model, to get everything working!  


Saturday 2 August

 Today we did a bit of travelling towards the River Loire.  We took the scenic route through tiny villages and fields of sweetcorn and sunflowers and came to another CCP at Beaulieu-sur-Loire.  We are by the Lateral Canal rather than the river - they follow each other along this part of the Loire.

 

First, we chilled out in the sunshine

then walk over the canal bridge and into the village to have a look around.  We watched a boat coming towards the bridge



 but as it got closer, we wondered if it would pass under easily 

 

but it did, just!

A walk around the town, especially to find a restaurant for this evening.

We did, and returned later to sample the food.  Pizzas were really good and Barbara enjoyed her couscous meal.


Afterwards, a little stroll around a public garden - but we were disappointed that it's not very well maintained.  I wanted to prune the roses ....
Tomorrow, some sight-seeing along this part of the Loire.

 


 

 

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