Middle-Aged Pretender.

Friday 1st September 2023. St Genouph, near Tours.

I had some ground breaking information yesterday evening after I had blogged. It could change the course of history! Am I sounding dramatic….I hope so! My genealogist advisor AKA my older brother David, had found out that we Vernon’s are actually of a direct blood line to William the Conqueror. You don’t get more Royal than that.

William had a bastard son called William Peverel and his daughter, Adelice Peverel married Richard de Vernon from whence we come! I therefore claim my royal rights to be the sovereign of the United Kingdom and Normandy. I suppose David should be the King but I am hatching a plot to murder him in a tower somewhere….I can’t give too many details away at this time. I call on all my loyal citizens and noble lords to raise arms against the Windsor tyranny. Once I have finished this Rugby World Cup trip I will return for the Rickobite Rebellion to lead my people to prosperity and justice! Or something similar.

Meanwhile, I will carry on with my epic journey in France.

Verily, I had a quiet night at Falaise and arose at 8am. I spent most of the day processing in a southerly direction. Sorry, I will return to normal speech.

I had a couple of brief stops but headed towards Tours on the Loire river. I spotted a possible place to wildcamp by the Cher river (a tributary of the Loire) on the west side of Tours. I arrived mid afternoon. It’s right next to a weir and the noise of the flowing river is likely to be my only sounds for the night. These little places to stop are wonderful. Also, it had started to warm up….25 degrees this afternoon and we had a hot and sunny evening. Just what is needed.

I got straight on the bike.

I cycled west to Savonniers crossed the river and cycled on the opposite side back eastwards to Tours. The route was part of the Eurovelo 6 route I cycled in 2013 although I can’t say I remember it.

I revisited Tours. The Cathedral is particularly memorable as I once paid to see a dance performance in the cloisters. It was the weirdest music and worst dancing I have ever seen. The male dancer kept prancing about and then throwing himself on the floor….it was weird. The rest of the audience clapped but I was appalled. Needless to say, I didn’t revisit the cloisters today, I would get PTSD. The Cathedral is however, stunning and free.

The chateau at Tours is less impressive compared to many on the Loire but the city still has lovely old buildings and lots of character.

I was roasting by the time I got back to the van. Janice will be pleased to know that I had a shower and freshened up after the ride. It’s surprising that when we are together we do ‘pink’ and ‘blue’ jobs but without her I have found that all the jobs are ‘blue’!

The light is starting to dim now and the skies are still blue. I may stay here a little longer. Their maybe a shower in the morning but otherwise it seems hot and sunny for the next few days. I could ‘bag’ a few chateaux.

Even if you have any doubts about my royal lineage you must, by now, be totally convinced that I am definitely a ‘great pretender’!