15th August, Oradour-sur-glane to Felletin.

I wanted to find somewhere fairly close to Clermont-Ferrand and a sift through the book of Aires offered Felletin, looked nice enough and a touch over an hour from Clermont, perfect, I arrived around lunch time, parked up in a very pleasant looking car park complete with toilet and free drinking water tap and mooched into the small town centre. It was market day, perfect, my lunchtime appetite would be quelled by various fresh breads, cured hams, sausages, relishes and pickles all locally produced and of course cheese, oh my God the cheese, on one stall alone an offering of 20 or so, it seemed rude not to try a few before plumping for my favourite then off to the next vendor. I collected my wares that not only would see off lunch but also tea and probably both meals tomorrow and sat a large table in the public square, there were about 10 people sat around it but it had room for as many more and they made me welcome. I sat and ate lunch in the pleasant sun and marvelled at the market around me. After the main course I headed to one trader who was selling a variety of dried fruits, the usual raisins, sultanas, pineapple, apricots ect but they had one thing I'd not seen before, chunks of dried melon, I was intrigued and bought a handful, good stuff, I was pleased with my choice of dessert.

I spent most of the day sitting in the sun reading, War of the world's long since dispatched to be replaced by Allan Quartermaine, the day rather drifted by me which was nice, my only real concern being how to stop the van smelling of ripe cheese but then again, why would I want to ? I feel very relaxed today and my surroundings and fortuitous choice of destination have only served to promote this feeling, people describe some small towns as sleepy, this one was and so was I, too much food at lunchtime saw me take a little nap in my chair by the van. When I woke I woke with a grin on my face, today has been a slow-paced but good day with nothing more remarkable to write about than the fact that the van really does smell of cheese.