My friends, I have discovered something. Something greater than love, something greater than nature, something greater than happiness. Something far greater than all of those things combined. This is without doubt the greatest discovery of all time. The french have often been forerunners in the world in technology, music, art and philosophy. It was the french who invented cinema. It was the french who invented the photograph. The french built the Eiffel Tower and a city around it that is known for being the capital city of love itself.
And yet, nothing can compare to what I have discovered in the small village of Marson at the south-western end of the Loire Valley. This trumps the waterfalls, lakes, rivers, mountains, forests and oceans that I have seen on my journey so far.
I bring you, the…

Bread. Vending. Machine.
Isn’t it gorgeous? A thing of astounding beauty that has captured my heart. I tried to write it a poem of love and joy but quickly discovered the simplicity of language couldn’t convey how I felt for such a glorious machine. For something as trivial as money this machine delivers freshly baked baguettes on demand at any time of night or day. Just that concept alone deserves a Nobel Prize or something similar.
I had walked over to this side of the car park (in which this revolutionary device is situated) in order to take a photograph of some boring chateau from a distance but genuinely completely forgot about the chateau after seeing this. I will finish writing about it for now but only because I will probably create another website devoted to the MaBaguette. Or possibly I’ll build a monument for it. Like a pyramid or an obelisk.
This, by the way is the chateau that I completely forgot about:

I wondered for a while if this was indeed built as tribute towards the MaBaguette machine but realised this couldn’t be true as it is clearly not worthy of the machine. I’ll probably knock this place down to make space for a more fitting monument to my dearest MaBaguette machine…
Anyway, if you want to read the rest of the blog, it is below. Nothing, however, will compare to what I have already said so you should probably just not bother!
Total distance walked so far: 1338 miles (2153km) in 71 days.
All change! Gone are the long point to point routes across France and in are the circular walks! Not going to lie - I miss it a bit. However, needs must, my hip is definitely in need of some care from me and I am glad to say I am giving it. I am also really enjoying some of the benefits that come with “camper walking” (yes, that is what I am calling it - get over it! 😂).
Comfy bed every night - I actually slept for ten hours one night!
Lots more room in my budget - I am paying between 5-20 euros a night, much better than the 40 euros I was spending on cheap AirBNBs.
I can leave my stuff in the van and explore towns and villages.
I can cook for myself or eat out much more regularly now.
Fair to say, those things are all helping me get over the change in walking. Many of you will have seen my van with the huge roof box on it but here it is in its full glory, ready for me to sleep in:

I have even added an inflatable mattress to the van so if anyone does want to join me in walking around France (looking for more MaBaguette machines) then let me know ;)
After my ferry crossing I have started from the north-western corner of France in Brittany, in the far corner of France from where I finished last week. It was a wonderful start as I got to spend it with Mum and Dad who are sailing the coast at the moment. They even dragged me kicking and screaming on a few lovely walks and racked up some impressive mileages themselves. I walked around Brittany for four days in total and can only describe it (very complimentarily) as Devon and Cornwall with croissants. The similarities are striking, with gorgeous coastlines, winding rivers and nice beaches as well as a healthy dose of rain and mud! I loved it and really did feel at home.

I have now ventured east towards the Loire Valley and have just started doing various walks, normally somewhere near the Loire river which is full to the brim at the moment after a lot of recent rainfall. I have only just ventured into chateau country but am already eagerly peering around every forest or hillside to see which breath-taking building will appear next. The sheer number of them already is surprising and I really do like the effort that went into making them. Well worth a visit. Once again, don’t rely on what the guides tell you to do; I am loving having the van and just doing some random walks as I am finding buildings and views that I just can’t find ’recommended’ anywhere.

Next up, I am continuing East along the Loire to discover some of the more famous sites but will definitely continue my random exploring approach as I go. My hip is holding up pretty well. It still lets me know about it if my strides start lengthening or if I turn awkwardly but it is definitely better than it was. I have been taking it easier and the terrain here is much better for it than the mountains that I had been walking in. Hopefully another week of walking gently will do the trick. Having said that, I did walk 25 miles today, swam for half an hour and managed to slide down some particularly slippery steps and it is still not screaming at me so I am taking that as a positive.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to return to daydreaming of the MaBaguette machine again 🤤
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