Diou-Decize-France-9-3-14

Our grocery store that was close yesterday was open this morning so we were able to buy breakfast food before leaving.

After Digoin, EV 6 switches from Canal du Centre to Canal Lateral a La Loire. This canal goes 196 km from Digoin to Briare. We rode along side this canal a short distance before turning off.

We are taking a different route from Euro Velo 6 route. The Euro Velo 6 route goes north of the Loire River and travels through the countryside in a very circuitous route. There are a lot of hills to climb and a few towns of interest but we did not want to do a lot of climbing. You do not see the Loire River except at one point.

Diou-Decize-France-Canal Lateral a la Loire

To avoid the hills, we picked up the Highway D 15 all the way straight West to Decize. It’s basically a flat route; the scenery is cows and corn; not our favorite scenic choice. There was very little traffic on the road, but it was slow going because of the chip seal. We did not particularly enjoy the route.

Decize is a lovely town and has a wonderful campsite on the Loire. Instead of blocking the views of the river with hedges and fences which so many sites have done, you can camp right on the river’s edge if you get there early enough. The campground has internet, and a sparsely provisioned kitchen room for cyclists. This is the first such amenity we have encountered in any campsite along our travels. There is an old city center in Decize which we shall visit tomorrow on a day off.

Diou-Decize-France-Decize campground on Loire