Montsoreau

We are nine days and 282 miles into our ride and we’ve made it to the incomparable Loire Valley. Huzzah!

It was really hard to leave the comforts of our loft in Les Grands Moulins, with its spectacular library, velvet couches, and cozy beds. 

Our hostess brought tea, coffee, croissants, baguettes, preserves, juice, hot milk, sugar cubes, and cocoa powder for our breakfast. The kids had fun mixing their own hot chocolate at the table. Yum! 

Luckily the rain cleared before we got on the bikes. Our ride to Saumur was fast, easy, and high energy, thanks to a tailwind and the excitement of returning to a familiar town.

Alas, Saumur was a madhouse, beset by visitors to the Anjou Velo Vintage, a retro bike festival for cycling enthusiasts “nostalgic for the vintage years.” Not only were we suddenly surrounded by folks on tandems sporting mustaches, gapettes, suspenders, gloves, lipstick, heels, and dresses, but the campground was completely full. Dang it!

So onward we plowed, racing at top speed to a campground about eight miles upriver in hopes of a spot. Dave and Alex fit right in with the crowd with their tandem, but our outfits and gear and hairstyles were all wrong, rats.

We were initially sad to miss out on a couple days in Saumur, but the place we landed is actually tons better. The campground is quiet and pleasant has all the velotourist comforts you can imagine, including an herb garden you can help yourself to while cooking. And a pool. And washing machines, which will definitely come in handy tomorrow! So, we got lucky again. 

Also, I’m thrilled that all I seem to have from yesterday’s fall is a sore neck and bruised hip. Thankful for that!!!

Love to all,

Liv