Challenge Day

(Check back tomorrow for more photos. Bandwidth issues tonight!)

Well, as it turns out, both kids were enthusiastic about a challenge day,  so we covered 45 miles and ended in the lovely town of Chateaudun.

Just before the halfway mark, we left one bike route and picked up another, so we're now on the Vallee du Loir ( without an e) headed southwest toward the Loire (with an e).

We're camped under some majestic sycamores with a view of the Chateau in the distance. We didn't so much arrive in our campsite as we exploded into it. I was amazed by how hard it was to cook on the ground after a big day of riding. I was seriously tempted to cook while lying down.

Yesterday was hot. We were drained by the heat and I was afraid the honeymoon phase of our trip was over and it would be boring and arduous from here on out. But today presented yet another series of delights and it was fun again. Thank goodness the weather shifted!

Lyle and Dave switched places this afternoon just to mix it up. I think the kids had fun chatting and cruising up and down hills and through villages on the tandem, with their parents trailing far behind.

About 12 miles before our destination, I had the bright idea to do a major food shopping so that we wouldn't arrive in our campground exhausted and without supper. Into my panniers went a watermelon, a half-liter of shelf-stable milk, a can of chickpeas and another of ratatouille, a box of couscous, muesli, oats, yogurt, cheese, applesauce, chocolate, nectarines, plums, tomatoes, and so on. Not only did this result in a near-instant flat rear tire, but I got a super good workout in that last stage of the ride. The crazy thing is, we will have consumed most of that food in the next 12 hours and we'll have to shop all over again!

I've been thinking a lot about Kirk as we wend our way through the countryside. He and Mom did so much wonderful bike touring in France, and they both loved it so much. The dips and swells of the road, the dappled light of the sycamore trees, the window boxes full of geraniums, the roses and hollyhocks growing against stone walls, the old farms and gardens, the fields of wheat and barley, the bright poppies, the interactions with the locals, the bread and cheese and wine -- Kirk loved it all. I'm lucky he and Mom passed an appreciation for bicycle travel onto us. Also, life is so danged short. 

Much love to all,

Liv