In my conversation with Holgier and Sabine at Amboise, they had posed the question about what happens if the van breaks down. Sure enough 2 days later, I was literally having one of my many moments of mindfulness re how well Monte2 was running, and giving the dashboard a thankful pat with verbal encouragement, when a van overtook me and indicated that something was wrong, about 30 miles from my Benodet destination. Fortunately, I was close to an exit from the dual carriageway, so was able to stop almost immediately and check to see a rear tyre extremely low on air.
Google to the rescue yet again, finding the nearest tyre place 3 kms away and for all of you who will be travelling in the vicinity of Quimperle, and needing tyre replacements/fixes, I recommend Vulco Tyres, who were so helpful, despite the heatwave and willing to diagnose the problem of a faulty valve there and then, and replace it for the sum of 21eu. I count myself very lucky, and continued with even more of a smile on my face. To top it all, given that Leclerc was on the same retail park, I decided once and for all, that if there was a long wished-for Lafuma recliner chair for sale, I would, and did, buy it. Result!
On the subject of tyres, I will also record here the very helpful teenager who appeared out of the blue, when I was trying to figure out how to use the not-working-anyway free bike air pump in Chambon-s-Lac and offered to manually pump up the bike tyres.
Never let it be said …..