Nevers to not where I was meant to go.

I dun goofed! Followed the wrong canal! Rookie mistake. But let's keep this chronological.

Last night I went for pizza in Nevers. It is a nice town with a huge church, decent sized monastery or average cathedral perched up on the hill right in the middle. Makes for a very pretty town from whatever angle. Except I guess if you're at the cathedral and facing away. There is also a grand looking building which I think may have been a small castle. It was being used for something else but I can't remember what. Court house maybe.

Anyway, I went for pizza and it was delicious, but when it came time to pay I realised I'd lost 10 euros out of my pocket so I didn't have enough money. That's embarrassing and awkward at the best of times but when I have to mime that I don't have money for the food I just ate it amplifies the awkwardness. Try and mime that. See?

Thankfully one of the blokes at the table next to me spoke English and translated for me. The manager was really cool and said to come back the next day to pay. I went back to the camp, got my money and walked back to pay straight away. The translator table were just leaving and all gave me a round of applause. I consider myself somewhat of a hero for making a mistake and rectifying it 45 minutes later.

I must say, the French people I've met are very trusting and very trustworthy. My opinion of the French has changed a lot since I've been here. I wasn't very open minded towards them when I set off which was a mistake because they are fantastic. Friendly, helpful, patient and they say bonjour to me constantly. People say hello to me, honestly, about 70 times a day. Old ladies especially.

Anyway, after pizza I was keen to get some sleep. But there was no chance of that. First, a couple had parked their camper about a metre from my tent and were up playing backgammon. That isn't a code or a euphemism. That's what they kept me up with.

Then the screaming started. I seriously thought I was having audible hallucinations. I ducked my head out and it was some teenager. He wasn't screaming words. I thought maybe he had some special needs and it looked like he was being half carried half dragged by some other people. After about half an hour I worked out they were all teenagers, and they either all had special needs or were all drunk. One of them was walking like how Peter Garrett dances. He was so close to being paralytic.

They eventually went back to their tents, still screaming, but they were a long way away so I could barely hear. But then the 2 camper vans that were parked near them decided to move. Next to me of course. So they lit my tent up like the sun as they did it and had a little gathering to debrief about their move just now.

Finally, there was quiet. Then the bloody campervan alarm went off. At that point I leaned my head out a shouted a request as loud as I can. I won't repeat it in case children are reading. It's what you think it was. It worked for 15 minutes then the screaming started again. But it either only went on for a few minutes or they went back to their tent.

I saw the three idiots this morning and got stuck into them. They don't speak English but I hope they go home and do some googling. I've been a pest before, but at least I scream words.

Way too many paragraphs for "it was noisy last night". Sorry.

I went to get the train today and the internet had lied to me. The train cost almost 200 euros. So I am still riding. Before I set off I stopped in maccas and did my tax. Sort of.

It is hot today. The sign at the pharmacy said 39 degrees but I doubt it was that hot. I rode along the canal. There were a lot of boats travelling both directions today. I beat them.

Just before Decize there were some boys jumping from a bridge into the canal. They waved and asked in broken English if I wanted to jump with them. So I quickly dumped my backpack and took my shoes and socks off and jumped a couple of times. They were stoked. I'd say they'd been asking cyclists all day. I took some photos of them jumping but unfortunately there was nobody around to get a photo of me. It wasn't very high but it was really fun.

I went into Decize and followed what I thought were the EV6 signs but alas they were for a different bike route, so I have now followed the wrong canal for 15km. I'm at a place called Cercy la Tour. It is the wrong canal, but the right direction. I'm tossing up continuing and cutting through a national park then meeting up with the EV6 again later. Hills are the only issue.

I'm at a camp-site that cost 3.70. The only other people here are a friendly Scottish couple. I don't understand it. I'm wondering if it's haunted or something. Either way, I'm going to plug as much stuff as I can into the shaving plugs in the bathroom and take at least 3.70 in electricity.