Chateaux Bagging!

Sat 2nd September 2023. St Genouph, near Tours.

In a sense this was my first full day of cycling/pootling and I put it to good use by bagging chateaux of the Loire.

I decided to stay in the same location tonight so no travelling. The weather forecast is good and I’m in a good location, on my own by the river Cher. my only consideration is that a bit of shade wouldn’t go amiss as the days to come are going to break the 30 degree barrier! It’s not something I have usually got to consider when I am at home in the lovely Lake District.

The day started pleasantly and by midday it was ‘scorchio’, to use a term from ‘The Fast Show’ comedy sketch programme. I was on the lovely new bike heading west again along the Cher and then the Indres river and finally back along the Loire. On the route I visited Chateau Villandry first. It’s a grand chateau with fantastic formal gardens. I know because I have been a couple of times, the last time with brother David in the first leg of the Eurovelo 6 cycle route.

I then climbed the only hill of the day and actually went into the beautiful chateau at Azay-le-Rideau.

This brings back memories of an early family holiday when my daughter was around 10 months old and a lovely photograph of her in a pretty floral dress holding a daisy. The chateau is gorgeous and in a great setting next to the Indres river, another tributary of the Loire. It’s one of those chateaux that annoyingly can’t be seen properly without paying the entry fee.

It’s about time I had an ice cream!

After a sandwich lunch I zipped over to a couple of chateau that I hadn’t visited before. Chateau D’Usse was the chateau that was imagined as the castle of the fable of ‘Sleeping Beauty‘. It was certainly grand.

On my return journey I followed the Loire and visited the chateau at Langeais and had my second ice cream admiring this view…

I called back to Savonnieres for a beer and bought a roti chicken for my meal. When I returned to the van I was pleased that I had brought the Ribena from home. That’s another item that is difficult to buy in France.

That’s my Ribena, it just happens to be in a wine glass, with a lovely healthy meal. Beautifully presented!

Janice has now arrived at Manchester Airport for her trip to Croatia. We live an exciting life!

Not sure what to do tomorrow. I have spotted somewhere by the Loire that is good but I could go east nearer Blois. Decisions decisions!