Chaudefonds sur Layon to Chantepie, close to Saumur

Wednesday 1^st June

The campsite is so relaxed that I had to ‘phone the town hall at Challones sur Loire, to ask for someone to come out so we could pay and move on. While waiting for l’homme, a Kingfisher passed by, fishing his way down the river, and was kind enough to perch opposite me for his picture to be taken. 

It was a great 4 days and they only charged us 36 euros; dogs, electricity wife and all.

The next site was called Camping Chantepie, and is at St Hilaire-St-Florent, which is a village/suburb about 8km from Saumur. Saumur is a historic town on the Loire. The bumpf on chantepie was a little misleading; 200 metere from the Loire it said. Possibly 200 meters drop but it was a hard 1km ride up the hill from the Loire to the site. There was a nice view from the site, over the Loire valley but it was a bit far for a quick dog walk by the river before turning in. We had been spoilt by 4 tranquil nights at chaudefonds and found the site very noisy.

View from Chantepie over the Loire valley

I cycled in to Saumur in the afternoon; a lovely ride by the river

and past the French National school of equitation. A lot of the gardens are immaculate here and this front garden, with roses bursting out over the front wall, is typical.