DAY 21 - OUSSON-SUR-LOIRE TO COSNE-COURS-SUR-LOIRE

A day following the GR3, which began with a typically hearty breakfast. 

In addition to the usual bread, butter, jams, croissants, juice, coffee and yoghurt, this morning's breakfast included these two cakes. One of us managed to find room to try both of them. She found them both excellent, with perhaps a slight preference for the chocolate cake over the apple tart.

The GR3 took us out of Ousson-sur-Loire by a paved road alongside the Loire. After about a kilometre we passed 500 kilometres for the trip.

The Loire just south of Ousson-sur-Loire - 500 kilometres from Dieppe 

There weren't many others on the path this morning, just a couple of fishermen trying their luck and some cyclists - one large group and some solo riders.

Healthy exercise on the GR3 

The GR3 bypassed the town of Bonny-sur-Loire, and although we didn't go into the town we had some wonderful views of some of its old buildings as we walked on.

Crossing the Pont des Soeurs outside Bonny-sur-Loire 

Another 6 or 7 kilometres took us to Neuvy-sur-Loire, where we detoured into the village, sat down at a café terrace for our morning coffee, and bought some provisions for lunch. A short way out of the village we followed the GR3 on to a road signposted as an old Imperial road and a Roman road.

Walking on the Old Imperial Road, south-east of Neuvy-sur-Loire 

For the remainder of the day the path went mostly along country roads, through La Celle-sur-Loire and Myennes, before rejoining the Loire to enter Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire. The path went right past the local stadium, where we sat down for a while to watch the action before going on to our accommodation. 

Taking a keen interest in the local football

Day:  21

Distance:  35.45km
Walking time:  7hrs 3mins
Elevation gain:  491 metres
Cumulative distance:  534.53 km