THE IRON ROAD

Warmer this morning, plus 2C!  But as predicted there is thick, low cloud.

Thenay is on the edge of St Gaultier and our route today takes us right through the centre of the main town, partly through a pedestrian-priority zone.  Cobbled humps, rain gulleys and general undulations make it feel like a 4x4 test track even at walking speed until we come out into the main square. Ali spots a boulangerie with a parking space so we stop and eye up its window display.  Minutes later she comes out with baguette, mini-quiches for lunch, fruit tartlets for supper and croissants for tomorrow's breakfast.

Leaving St Gaultier we head north west, bisecting yesterday's route through the lakes, which today are dull and grey so we are glad we made the best of yesterday's sunshine.

From Mezieres-en-Brenne there are fewer lakes and woods with the landscape turning into rolling, pale green fields reminding us of the Somme region. We learn that the lakes were man made by the extraction of peat for charcoal, much like the lakes around Long in the Somme, plus some iron mining. Perhaps iron gave some lakes, like Mer Rouge we saw yesterday, a red tinge.

We stop in Azay-le-Feron for lunch and a quick peek at the outside of its 15th C chateau, which is closed until March.  Ali is holding her camera up to snatch a picture over the iron gate when a teacher, with a school party, asks if he can put a child on his shoulders to take the picture for her.  Offer declined.  

'le Feron', not surprisingly, indicates that the town was once a centre for the iron industry, with iron being extracted as late as the 19th C.  Azay is a derivation of aqua, perhaps from the lakes left after mining.

The map marks a scenic section from Preuilly-sur-Claise to Abilly and there is an aire at Le Grand Pressigny.  It's definitely a pretty route; more Somme-like rolling plains, a bit of woodland

and some attractive houses and farmsteads along the way.

Just before Le Grand Pressigny we drive below the imposing walls of the chateau.

The aire a large tarmac area outside the municipal campsite which is closed now, as is the service point, but a notice tells us we could get 1€ tokens from the marie if we wanted to use the campsite amenities block.

It's a peaceful spot and we spend the remaining part of the afternoon reading.

Later Ali wins a game of Rummikub.