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Kyra's last words are worthy of repetition as we look to the start of our day, Mon 24th June. 'exhaustion is not quite the word, there was no part of my body that was not aching as I fell into bed.'
If she thought things were bad on Sun night, they were 100 times worse the next morning.
The alarm screamed at a horribly early 8am. We finally pulled ourselves along the floor and into our clothes for breakfast around 9:30am. Over breakfast we conducted a family meeting where we hypothesised on hiring a car, biking another 50km, doing some biking somewhere, or just going back to bed. Eventually (and surprisingly) Kyra moved a motion for a little cycling - not a lot.
This turned out to be 'off piste' a little, as we left the planned bike routes and headed off on our own. We found and enjoyed what seemed to be a totally untouched (by tourists) village of St Ouen de Vignes. There was a patisserie and a little park (and little else) where we enjoyed a nice, quiet lunch. We then cycled back to Amboise. Total cycling around 18km, and surprisingly easy once we were underway and stretched out our tired muscles.
After enjoying the delights of Bigot (a famous local Chocolatier - specialty, Mango marshmallows) we climbed up the hill in Amboise and toured the Chateau du Roi Amboise. This was as striking as Chenonceau - perhaps more so. It rises majestically over the town of Amboise and the Loire so has a real 'mountain castle' feel to it. As always, the gardens were beautifully kept, the collections in each room original but perfect in every way and the atmosphere almost chilling. I guess 'authentic' is an adjective that springs to mind.
We've wound our way back to our rooms for a late afternoon rest before heading out later on our bikes to dinner in a recommended restaurant across the Loire. That is, all of us except Rory who is busy doing laps of Amboise on his bike. He make have slipped off with Euro10, so maybe that Chocolatier is also receiving a special Rory visit.
- comments
Elizabeth Nettleton It all sounds wonderful and I'm glad that you seem to have revived from the long bike ride, You will know that the Q'l'd won the League to night and that K. Rudd is back again in charge (tho' not P.M. yet. Elections probably in August so you'll be back for the fun! More rain forecast for the morrow but I hope to hit a golf ball before I go stir crazy! Love to all. E.
Weaze Hi - brilliant to hear of your travels (so envious - sounds amazing!). Photos are lovely to see and really pleased you're having some down time together. Think you arrived Paris yesterday - tres bon! Lots of love to you all - W xo