Cycling from Bourges, France to Bétête, France

Left Bourges on the N151 about 5 km to Pisse-Vielle, then turned on to the D103 and crossed the Cher at Lunery, following the river on the D27 as far as Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, then started overland on the tiny D73, D144 and D70. At Châteaumeillant, rode along the Sinaise on the D71, dropping down into the valley of the Taissonne and climbing back out, with another climb at Vijon. After the hill is a left turn onto the D68 to Nouzerines, then right on the D83 through les Zéros into Bétête.

It was getting more and more evident on some of these hills that there was not enough air in my tires and a lot of time was spent this day trying to get them pumped up. It started with a gas station. It seemed simple, we would hook up the compressor and open the valve. Nothing. There was no air going into the tire. Then the man would go and actually start up the compressor, we would wait a few minutes until it started idling and then try again. Still nothing. I was on the receiving end of very much hospitality from those I encountered at these gas stations, as I was forced to begin speaking more and more French.

Actually, there is no memory of any village at Bétête, just the hostel, housed in a very ancient abbey, l'Abaye de Preneboit,  dating from the 14th Century. Here are some of the most enormous bunks imaginable, on the second floor of the main building. This place is very, very old and really isolated, in a most tranquil spot. Planning to eat in town proved a joke and my dinner turned out to be almost an entire nut pie purchased at the small regional products store located on the property, this being the only food available. Although I left in the morning, this seemed like a good place to rest for a couple of days, providing you brought enough food.

Auberge de Jeunesse
Centre d'Animation
l'Abbaye de Preneboit
23270 BETETE
05 55 80 78 91