Many Rivers to Cross

One of the things we really like about this part of the world are the rivers. Many of them are big, wide and slow flowing, and the rest are just slow flowing. Every single one is a lazy river. The Loire itself is a very shallow, wide river to cross, running across a plain, but in places along its valley the Vienne river runs deep.

The Claise river doesn't run deep, nor is it wide, but it is our river and when we go to the river there is always something to see. If we are really lucky we will see a kingfisher dive in the river, but more often it's a coot paddling along the edges.

All these rivers can sometimes lead to confusion, not a good thing when a bloke is supposed to know his way around. We have had the occasional discussion about the name of the river we are approaching, or what river a certain town is on.

Because of this I have prepared myself a map.

Except that those particularly perceptive amongst you will have noticed it isn't actually a proper map, but a schematic map in the tradition of Harry Beck. True to the spirit of Harry Beck, the geographical relationship of places isn't an issue, the importance lying simply in which order places occur.

These aren't all of the tributories of the Loire River - in fact they aren't necessarily even the most important tributories. It is a fully personalised schematic showing the rivers (and the towns on them) that are important to us.

Simon