Index | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | References
Day 5 - To Fontevraud l'Abbaye
We were on the road at 09:14 (getting earlier each day!) and headed northwards towards Saint Yrieix la Perche. Somebody had been doing a bit or resurfacing of the gravel and tar variety and unfortunately there was a severe excess of the gravel. Daryl's memories of previous experience on gravel slowed him down considerably. Roadworks in the above town meant a detour but thanks to the GPS we were back on our track within a couple of miles. Having been a bit sceptical of the technology Daryl was rapidly becoming a convert and when we talked at dinner that night admitted that a GPS and radio comms were now high on his list for Christmas. He was definitely missing the ability to talk back to me particularly when I took us on a very rural route which he afterwards said would have been fine on a cruiser but was wrist-aching on a sports-tourer.
Anyway, this rural route allowed us to skirt around Limoges and arrive at Oradour sur Glane at 12:15 [N45.92887 E1.03427]. Since I visited this memorial last year I stayed with the bikes and gear and let Daryl have the experience.
Whilst waiting there a number of British bikers pitched up including two GoldWings so I was not devoid of company.
At 13:00 we set off again, north then northwest in search of food. I was looking for the same place Alan and I stopped at last year - just a portacabin really, but the food was reasonable. It was closed. We searched a bit further and ended up at a not terribly inspiring cafe in Le Pont and had ham and chips - a far cry from the meals we had previously enjoyed.
Onwards, then around the east of Poitiers this time and straight roads all the way to Loudun. Then Loudun towards Fontevraud L'Abbaye. We had been going straight for so long that we almost forgot how to corner when we came to the only two bends (hairpins) in this straight road. Just before Fontevraud L'Abbaye we turned off into Domaine St Hilaire, parked up and found our rooms at 15:40 [N47.15911 E0.04673].
The food was not as good as the previous year and, perhaps because we had been so spoilt at the Château, we were a little disappointed
Distance travelled 162 miles
Index | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | References