Racing Through Le Mans.

PONTLEVOY.

We lie in until 8:30, the darkness around the lake helps. Dawn breaks as we stir. After a leisurely breakfast, we head off to Le Mans. It's built on a hill with walls to protect it half way up. We find a free space at the foot of the hill and walk up the steps. We visit the Cathedral of St Julien, one altar includes St Francis Xavier, my old schools patron saint.

Call for provisions at a Super U at Parigne-L'Eveque. Find a fabulous spot by a lake to eat lunch in a village called St Vincent.

Settle at Pontlevoy. Electricity is free but water needs a token. We collect one from the local bakery to find that it's free as well. A French coiple suggest that the water pump isn't working. We'll try it tomorrow.

Walk around the town and find a historical site, elephants, rhinos and tigers are said to have roamed around here millions of years' ago.

The view of the village from the van.