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Huddled under a stand of inadequate trees out in the middle of the French countryside, I had to wonder where we'd gone wrong. The rain was definitely setting in, the wind was picking up and it was getting cold. We didn't have any waterproof gear or serious layers for warmth. Sjane's raynaud's was ensuring the temperature dropped in her hands and as a result, her mood was going south as well. Worst of all, our bicycles sat useless nearby and we were over 5 kilometres from both our destination and the nearest town. This wasn't going to plan!
Not fifteen minutes before we were cruising along a quiet country pathway with nothing to disturb the peace but birds chirping and our bicycles humming along under us. The skies were an uninterrupted sapphire blue, the landscape was stunning and we were on the trail headed to Chateaux De Chambord: one of the hundred-odd chateaux littering the Loire Valley and Blois' foremost architectural and historic gem. I had checked the weather forecast: all good! We knew we were in for a great day. We had even joked about being participants in the Tour De France; such were our high spirits. Then came the rain.
I must admit, we had been exceedingly lucky with the weather on our travels thus far. Sitting huddled under those twigs and getting slowly soggier I had to wonder if our luck had ended. But no; after a few tentative minutes and more than a few encouraging words for Sjane, the clouds rolled on and the blue skies returned. This became the pattern for the day; clear skies alternating with gloomy thunderheads and drizzle. It soon became a game and a routine for us. We'd watch the clouds roll in and duck under the nearest cover just before the skies opened up. As you could imagine, this happened more than a few times on the 40km ride to Chambord and back.
Arrival at the Chateaux was one of those jaw-dropping moments you never forget. From kilometres away we could see the ramparts and towers standing proudly over the treeline. Upon arrival we couldn't help but marvel at the magnitude and grandeur of the castle. As usual, we picked a spot for a picnic and soaked it all in. The exterior facade danced along the line between decorative and defensive, while inside the keep a double helix spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci took centre stage.
The next day our destination was the gardens at Chateaux Chaumont-Sur-Loire (via train this time - my arse was sore!). While the Medieval style castle standing proudly beside the Loire River was indeed a sight to behold; what captivated us for the day were the extensive gardens filled with contemporary art. Token picnic. Lots of photos (coming soon)! Another bottle of excellent French wine to while away the evening. Not much more to say, really!
The Loire Valley captures the romance of the French countryside along with the grandeur of the Renaissance period to offer something truly beautiful. Put it on your Bucket List!
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