bill and cathy travels: BOURGES, FRANCE to GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

We've had some fun getting here. This is the first time we have been totally dependent on Beryl our Sat Nav voiceover to get us anywhere. The first direction should have set alarm bells ringing as she sent us up the first country road between here and Pontivy. Pontivy is our nearest big town and about 25 km from Guemene and we have done the journey dozens of times. Ok, we thought maybe the main road from here to Pontivy is not necessarily the quickest.

French roads are like a spiders web of country type roads with major highways linking cities. We wanted to see the River Loire valley having heard so much about it so we set the Sat Nav for Tours as the first major town on the river and let Beryl show us the way. We expected it would take about 5 hours as it is roughly the same distance as Paris on the map. Beryl was set for the Shortest route so we expected to see some country but we were in no hurry.

We went down narrow country lanes, through small towns and villages and along the side of a railway line on a track barely wide enough for us and were directed across the line on a bridge which was clearly a cattle crossing! At one point we were stuck behind a tractor and trailer for several Kilometers doing about 25kmph. When eventually we got to pass him I was tempted to yell out "We're going to Prague!!!" It all seemed so ridiculous.

When it was Cathy's turn to drive the heavens opened up and she had to drive through sheets of rain. Did very well though!

Anyway we eventually got to Bourges and it took 9 hours! We now realized that the shortest route is not necessarily the quickest! The hotel was much appreciated!