Amboise and Tours

Day 3 of our bike ride was Saturday. As we left Blois a classic car festival was setting up, not too dissimilar to what you might see at home, just a lot more Citreon and Renault. 

We idled along enjoying the serenity of the river surrounds. The route takes you away from congested areas which has a downside, we climbed out of the river valley a few times and had to do some work. It was a little over 5 hours before we checked in to our Amboise hotel. 

Amboise is postcard Loire. The castle overlooks a well preserved old town. 

Lots of tourists gather here on Rue Victor Hugo. I'm not sure if he had any connection to Amboise but the house Leonardo Da Vinci spent his final three years is near one end of this street.

Poppies are flowering everywhere at the moment reminding me of the commemorations back home. Most villages we cycle through have war memorials similar to NZ.

Sping has provided a nice bit of colour overall, we haven't identified all of the crops but this one is rape seed.

Language throws up some interesting moments. As we checked out of our hotel, the young receptionist checked her computer and said "it's over for you". We always show appreciation for attempts at communicating with us in English, even when it sounds like a line from Quentin Tarantino.

On day 4 we cycled to Chenonceau Castle which is a beauty. The trip from there towards Tours was possibly the best of our Loire route, until we neared the end and our cycling enthusiasm was depleted.

Tours, like all of the locations, drew some wow reactions. 

This wasn't our hotel for the night

A previous owner of Chenonceau being attacked by poodles

Chocolate box buildings in the old part of Tours

Vicki negotiating an undulation on her acoustic bike