Auray - Piriac: Scenic route and another R&R Day - Brittany - Loire Valley - Burgundy

June 14, 2010

Auray - Piriac: Scenic route and another R&R Day

Again the night was cold and I ended up putting on all the layers I could find. Is this really the same sleeping bag that kept me warm during the terrible weather we had in Holland last summer? I conclude I must have brought my light-weight sleeping bag by mistake. However, when we return home I see this is not the case. Either the nights are colder this year or I'm wimpier.

Our route today is on small roads through rolling countryside and on the last kilometers we have exhilirating views of the coast.

Windows and doors framed in flagstones. Perhaps this is in Ambon.

And the weather? After enjoying our picnic lunch under blue skies, dramatic black clouds appear. I am all optimism and want to keep riding but Janos is apprehensive. We duck into the next bus-stop shelter none too soon. The first rain drops are already smacking the warm asphalt.

If I ignore the clouds, maybe they will disappear.

The clouds don't disappear: we take refuge in a bus-stop shelter.

The rain has stopped and we cross another river inlet at Borage d'Arzal.

We don't always agree on what route to take: Should we take the longer and possibly more scenic road close to the coast or save a few kilometers and head straight for Assérac? It's hard to resist when a direct road beckons. We go straight. The scenery is good here, too.

Decisions, decisions. When we reach the coast we dilly-dally as to whether we should camp or find a room. The first campground we find is not yet open for the season and we cycle on. In Piriac the dark clouds help us decide. We take a room, have free wifi and when we hear the rain during the night, we know we have made the right decision.

We now have a beautiful stretch along the coast before we reach Piriac.

Piriac, once a fishing village, is now a harbor for many leisure boats.

After dinner we stroll around Piriac before we turn in.

The next morning it's cold, grey and wet. It's an easy decision to stay another day. It rains on and off all day long and between the showers we investigate Piriac, a tidy little harbor town. Everything is freshly painted and the flower boxes are overflowing, waiting for the tourist season to get underway. Aside from a few "boaties" here for a regatta, we have the streets to ourselves.

Today's ride: 62 km (39 miles)
Total: 445 km (276 miles)

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