Fête du Bois du Temple 2015 - The Day Dawns

We were invited across to the Bois du Temple to have some breakfast before the start of the Balade, but, having already eaten, we just had a coffee (though we noted wine was an option!)

 It fell to the Maire to gather the troops...

And as there were no maps of the route left we photographed someone elses, though all we needed to do was go with the flow.

After some confusion over who should go first and in what order, we were off

and the first place en route was Richelieu..

Then out into the open; if you look carefully (very carefully) you can just make out the line of cars ahead of us...

This couple were on motorised bikes but they still had a fair bit of pedaling to do and they were no youngsters!

Here we are entering Marcay

where the degustation was awaiting us. We got the impression that they were not expecting quite so many people...

 and once again it was up to the Maire to sort it all out.

A megaphone wasn't enough and someone had the bright idea of providing a ladder..

Half the crowd were enticed on a walk around the village whilst the other half chose their tipple.. (Note the nearly full/unopened bottles of water...!)

Back to the cars again....

and off towards Ligre..

All along the route people were out at the roadside to wave... 

 Not far from home now,,

We were approaching Braslou..

and even the chef of the restaurant was out to wave!

And after 60 kilometers we were back in the Bois du Temple, where we'd started, 

For some, it had all been just too much!!

What a great day! We met lots of our friends from the village and beyond and also two people from the village, but who we'd never met before, each invited us to their homes to share a meal.

Beat that for conviviality!