Late start

Breakfast and the briefing started the day at the usual time,  but a shorter day's ride allows time to see the Abbey next to the hotel.  Wow, it is wonderful. The cavernous spaces, the buildings, the gardens, everything.  There is enough on Wikipedia and travel advisor so I am not giving you the travelogue version here.  A highlight for us was coming across the audio setup for something, probably a wedding,  in a rear garden. The sound set to reflect from the abbey walls filled the space with a wonderful sound. Our hour long visit was certainly not enough, but the road calls.
A shorter ride is welcome after the first few days, but it still seems a longish way to coffee..will the cafe have shut for the lunch break? No, phew - and  there is shade. Good double, and as I enter fellow cyclists are ordering coffee in not bad French when the barman suddenly say in perfect English 'Would you mind closing the door behind you'. It is an absurdist moment as we go ahead mixing my poor French with his excellent English. Then an Englishwoman comes through another door and buys some coke. Stop this fun, get to lunch before sundown.
The best thing about the picnic lunches is the way the riders egg the guides on to top the previous day's picnic.  Alex and Tom alternate driving the van and getting lunch with riding each day.  They also excel at finding shady places, usually with trees, to dine under. Admittedly, they have been here before and there are notes but we appreciate it as if it were just for us and brand new.
On the road again, still long stretches mostly with little traffic. The scenery continues fine, the weather getting warmer. We areive in the former pilgrim town Parthenay to the least attractive hotel building so far, but the bed feels comfortable and their is air-conditioning so we can close the windows to shut out the noise of the city square below. It is not unpleasant noise of people enjoying themselves but sleep m is paramount.  The hotel does have an amusing sign on the door...