We hit 1,000km this week, on our last day along the Loire. After four weeks of cycling, it feels like a significant milestone and well timed. We've averaged around 250km each week, usually managing to fit one rest day in per week. Luca has really settled into the cycling routine and loves it. He has become an expert tractor and farm animal spotter! But we try to give him as much play time off the bikes as possible, so we tend to set off late enough in the morning.... any other cyclists in the campsite are well gone by the time we're ready to go. But this gives Luca time to play in the playground or to have a swim. We also set up camp by early evening if possible, to allow him another chance to play and run around. We're happy enough with our progress though and reckon we're making good time overall.

Our time in France has flown in one way and yet when we think back to the first few days cycling through Brittany it seems like an age ago. So much has happened since then. We've had some amazing times, sights and sounds, but we've also had some less than amazing times..... unseasonal rain, dense gravel tracks, hills, wind and punctures spring to mind!

We're in Besancon at the moment. We cycled as far as Sancerre and, as we have to be in Tuscany for Lynn and John's wedding on Monday, had to take a train from there.... three trains with a toddler, two bikes, two trailers and all the gear was an adventure in itself.


We had looked into getting a train with the bikes, etc. all the way to Florence, but it wasn't possible. So after much map-gazing we decided to leave the bikes here in Besancon and rent a car to drive to Italy. We'll drop the car back here in two weeks, pick up the bikes and make our way to the Black Forest to start the Danube trail. We'll miss France, but are very much looking forward to the next leg.