La Republique c'est moi

Monday 30th  May

We are fairly sure that Penny is a reincarnation of Napoleon. She is now more French than the French, and has been heard muttering “La republique, c’est moi”. She considers that any particular plot of land that she is trotting on belongs to her. If anyone ventures onto to her campsite, a friendly but firmly proprietorial woof or two is directed in their direction, before she heads off to check them out, with much tail wagging once her ownership has been established.

Colin, however, is more truffle hound than Emperor and can sniff out a decaying chip, beneath inches of topsoil, at 100 metres. Long dead small mammals or birds are also a favourite; the smellier the better. Sometimes he hits paydirt; we lost sight of him once on a French campsite for 5 minutes and he appeared from the direction of a tent proudly carrying a large wrapped brie in his mouth.

We cycled to Challones sur Loire again today. Nia found a short cut between some woods and a field and we disturbed a deer munching in the grass. A large buzzard circled overhead for a while, eyeing up Colin. After a few calculations of maximum take off weight and escape velocity he moved on, to search for more lissom prey. Being overweight has survival advantages for truffle hounds.

We found an internet café in Challones, very low key and friendly; the owner had to text his wife to find out the wifi password but we eventually got on line to upload the last few days ramblings. We cycled back via the local supermarket to replenish the fruit stores and the local bike shop where I entertained the proprietor for a while with my French.

We met a delightful couple, Greg and Beverley, from Chichester in the evening and shared a bottle or two of wine. Greg has spotted a Kingfisher so I shall be out with my camera in the morning.

This the campsite in Chaudefonds sur Layon where we are staying.