After visiting many troglodyte sites and Chateaux it was time to move on. It was decided as it has been hard to get the girls on a flight we settled on Nice .So we are going to do a loop of the Loire valley and down the East. Not going to Germany this time. But in the Dordgne region we visited la Roque St Christophe ,which has had 50000 years of habitation .With a small mus'ee of prehistoric finds including fertility goddesses with huge pendulous breasts made from mammoth ivory circa 50000 yrs. The site itself is fitted out as it was in medieval times .Then finishing with a torture room which I didn't we were going to get Mike A out of .Vee haf vays of making you talk.I didn't think I would sleep after that as it was unbelievable the methods man has contrived be cruel to one another. Mike was pleased to inform that they could work out now that the so called gentle execution of the guillotine was so quick that the brain would be working for many seconds after. We then poosled up the Vezere valley and then the night again at Sarlat .This 15-16^th c town in a beautiful stone colour it has more protected buildings than any town in Europe. Next bidded farewell to P&M and the cyclists and set course north .We went to Oradour sur Glane which is a site that has been sealed off and completely left as it was since the SS sacked on June 10 1944 killing 642 of the inhabitants ,only 6 people escaped .The main st leads roofless houses burnt out cars and machinery .In the church the heat has been so intense the bell has dropped from about 20 meters in molten heap.

This village is above Limoges ,from advice we didn't go there. Spent the night in in a little village of Rochechouart .Its claim to fame is that it is the site of the impact of of one of the largest meteorites ever to hit the earth about 1.5 km in circumference and about 6000 million tonnes. The only sign of it is some of the buildings are in a different looking stone than you usually see. The hotel we stayed was great only 38 e ,a family owned business and had 5 course dinner for 23e.

When you driving along you you have to make sure that you don't need any thing between 12 – 2 because even the large stores close. Sometimes you do think about the good old NZ dairy just to quickly get a drink and a pie but its not the way.

From there we made for the Loire valley and stayed in Loches a walled village dominated by the Chateau on the hill . This was a lovely town again and the accommodation is very reasonable here just look around. I believe its cheaper than NZ .

We moved onto Saumur ,my only knowledge of this place was that the French army had an Equestrian academy ,it used to be called the Cadre Noir as they wear black uniforms. It is not run by the army any more but still wear the black uniform.

When we reached the city C rang ahead and we found the one in the rough guide was available. And what a find, called hotel De Lourdes it is run by a an English speaking couple. It is very quaint but renovated and central to town.

We went to see the display at the riding school and although they weren't all high school trained it was still very worth whileseeing them dance to the music very special.

Have arrived in Bois , couldn't find any where to stay initially ,when you are travelling you forget that the weekend other people might want to do things to,and the french are great travelers in their own country. So we are in a pretty ordinary hotel and when we wandered down into town we found that the food was disappointing too .However it is a good town for looking at a special chateau and then I hope that is about the end of looking at them