Monday, September 9, 2019

Day 9: Mon 9 Sep – Angers to Saumur, 64km; total ride: 273km

Walk: 9km
Chilly 5 deg this morning (but nothing another layer won’t fix) some cloud but fine. By 0900h the temp was 9 deg, 1100h – 11 deg but by 1300h it had rocketed up to a balmy 18 deg. Perfect temps for riding.

Got away at 0724h and were immediately on a wonderful French cycle path. We’ve been very happy with the extent of the cycling infrastructure so far, there’s certainly a lot of people on bikes so the paths are well used. We had to backtrack a couple of km to get on the Loire path. The first 40 or so km were fairly straight forward, past fields of corn, asparagus, marijuana (first time we’d ever seen it growing legally- completely out in the open with no security) and veggies as it meandered through one quaint village after another. So enjoyable getting a great variety of scenery with a photo opportunity around every bend. The last 20 km became a bit lumpy, to say the least but we still made it to Saumur by 1300h. Although check in wasn’t supposed to be until 1500h a lovely lady opened the door, let us in, stored our bikes and booked us in. That allowed us to dump the gear and go on a walking tour. Not as big as Angers but lots to see.

Unfortunately, the Castle was closed today so that was a little disappointing. Although the view of the Loire and surrounds from the nearby lookout made the walk up the hill worthwhile. The Castle on the outside was magic. The Norte-Dame des Ardilliers was the pick of the many churches we looked at.

Dinner was taken out for a pleasant change, squid, and pasta entree with a seafood risotto for main. I loved it but Bob the Chef wasn’t over the moon about the way they cooked the risotto. Does not normally have all that cream in it.


All in all, a great day on tour.

Great cycle path

We got to see the sun come up

A marijuana crop, completely out in the open

A lovely little chapel in the countryside

Le Loire

Coffee stop, it seems even the horses need a boost!

Snack stop

Timber crop

Saumur


Sculpture exhibition in Town Hall


Town Hall

Old city fortifications


Notre-Damede Nantilly



Botanical garedns


Saumur Castle

St Pierre Church Organ

St Pierre

15th Century house at Saumur

Approaching the Dom

Inside the Dom

Our room at Saumur

Nice bathrooom

Entree

Main


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