This is last night's accommodation, a small well equipped flat above a family home where we spent a very comfortable night. There is a larger apartment in the grounds that accommodates up to 10 people and as we were loading the bikes, one of the occupants came over for a chat. He had stayed there with his wife and other family members, having come from Amiens for his wife's brother's funeral on Tuesday. We had an interesting chat with him before saying 'adieu'.
It was shorts and t-shirts today, though needing a jacket to begin with. We crossed the bridge to Gennes-Val-de-Loire, turned right on to the cycle path and soon came to Le Thoureil, another pretty village comprising a single row of houses and offering boat trips on the river.
Listed on the UNESCO world heritage list, St Remy-la-Varenne was our next stop, for coffee at a bar/tabac opposite the church.
The church was closed but the next door priory was open and for 4 Euros each, we spent an hour or so exploring the buildings, originally built in the 10th century and restored and updated over the ensuing centuries, including this century.
Returning to the bikes, we met a group of 6 cyclists from U.K. who'd stopped on seeing the Australian flags. One of them was a West Australian who has a small property in Cottesloe so was excited to see a WA patch, with a black swan, on one of my bags.
We crossed the river again from St Remy to St-Mathurin-sur-Loire
where major roadworks were being undertaken, although being midday, there was no action and no-one to be seen. Going away from the river for a while, the path took us through a couple of villages and past a flower farm,
returning to the river at La Dagueniere where we stopped to eat the ham and egg sandwiches we'd made this morning.
On reaching Les Ponts-de-Ce, we lost the cycle path signs and so rode along the dedicated bike lane on the road. With few exceptions, the motorists here are very courteous but it is much more pleasant to ride on the paths.
Crossing the Maine River near the confluence of the Maine and Loire Rivers, we reached Bouchemaine, our stopover for tonight. Beers at the 'Monkey Bar'
before dinner, an evening stroll back 'home'
and a comfortable bed.
No comments:
Post a Comment