Training in Tours!
It all started with a business trip. A pretty long business trip that would keep Dan away from his scheduled training ride. Actually, it took him across the big pond, and began in London, then Amsterdam, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, and finally London.The weekend found him in Paris. So where to go for a bike ride? Training for a century ride to benefit the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, see the links for web site to donate -in case you forgot that this is a shameless pitch, is serious business. It can't be skipped just because business calls. Although he wasn't in Rome it seemed appropriate to "do as the Romans" and bike in Tours. So it was off to Tours in the Loire area for the weekend for a bike ride. No student from "Medieval and Renaissance Culture" can ever forget that this is the site of the Chartres Cathedral. Professor Strabber be proud! But, rather than contemplate angels on the head of a pin it was time for some biking.
But wait! What about the pre-ride carbs? What about some German cuisine? So here's the pre-ride preparations.
A train from Paris got the trip started. Tours is in the Loire Valley, which was listed as World Heritage site under "Cultural Landscapes" with UNESCO. It spans 280km from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes-sur-Loire, 160 town and 1.2 million inhabitants. Europe's last wild river, the Loire has won planetary recognition.
Part of this includes the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park, created in 1996. The park was established both to preserve nature and the ensure it's economic sustainment. The Lore was the frontier between France and Britain during the Hundred years War, and splits the country in two in terms of climate. The Loire is no longer navigated, but remains a place to see and bicycle.
Dan rode two sections of the trail through this area - H and I. So the door was left open for future rides, although with the Euro at $1.35 this may take awhile to become reality!
The first leg of the trip started in Tours and is shown on the detailed map. A well-established bike area renting a cycle was no problem. As you can see the area is well developed and a biker will not lack for facilities along the way!
The first part of Dan's journey, was along the "fleeting infidelity to the Loire" trail. The arrow points to this trail which is below the big river. It's named that because if follows the River Cher instead of the Loire. After leaving the Lake of La Bergenonnerie the trails leaves the road and runs along designated bike trail.
One notable landmark on this trail is the "Great Mill".
Further down the river, in keeping with the cultural site designation, boatmen have returned with their traditional vessels. It's not clear what they do with them, but it's fun to see it. One can imagine an Impressionist painter settling down along a sunny river bank to paint a scene.
Despite the distracting scenary, Dan made it to Villandry. The trail returns to the Loire River at Villandry.
As you can see from the picture, the bike was a Trek bike, quite similar to Dan's new bike, except it had 24 gears and no clips or stirrups.
There was a sign to the Chateau, down a lane lined with trees. At the end of the lane there was a picnic ground and shops. To the left is the Chateau. The Chateau is behind Dan in the photo.
There was an ice cream store with water and of course ice cream!
The next leg of the journey was the along the river bank trail. This leads to La chapelle-aux-Naux with its restored harbor.
Perhaps this is where the traditional vessels berth.
To the left is a scene from the river Loire. If it looks familiar perhaps it's because Dan's mother Olive has an oil painting of something quite similar to this that her parents bought when they were on sabbatical in France.
Finally to Brehemont. At this point Dan left the trail, turing west to Azay-le-Rideau, where he got lost and couldn't find the connecting road. The rental didn't come with a GPS.
So back to Lure with a northeast turn to Lignieres-de-Touraine to meet the trail back at la Chapelle-aud-Naux and return to Tours.
All in all the round trip was about 111 kilometers. Humm how many miles is that ?
About 69 miles! Pretty good for a trip through a park.
But wait! What about the pre-ride carbs? What about some German cuisine? So here's the pre-ride preparations.
A train from Paris got the trip started. Tours is in the Loire Valley, which was listed as World Heritage site under "Cultural Landscapes" with UNESCO. It spans 280km from Sully-sur-Loire to Chalonnes-sur-Loire, 160 town and 1.2 million inhabitants. Europe's last wild river, the Loire has won planetary recognition.
Part of this includes the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park, created in 1996. The park was established both to preserve nature and the ensure it's economic sustainment. The Lore was the frontier between France and Britain during the Hundred years War, and splits the country in two in terms of climate. The Loire is no longer navigated, but remains a place to see and bicycle.
Dan rode two sections of the trail through this area - H and I. So the door was left open for future rides, although with the Euro at $1.35 this may take awhile to become reality!
The first leg of the trip started in Tours and is shown on the detailed map. A well-established bike area renting a cycle was no problem. As you can see the area is well developed and a biker will not lack for facilities along the way!The first part of Dan's journey, was along the "fleeting infidelity to the Loire" trail. The arrow points to this trail which is below the big river. It's named that because if follows the River Cher instead of the Loire. After leaving the Lake of La Bergenonnerie the trails leaves the road and runs along designated bike trail.
One notable landmark on this trail is the "Great Mill".Further down the river, in keeping with the cultural site designation, boatmen have returned with their traditional vessels. It's not clear what they do with them, but it's fun to see it. One can imagine an Impressionist painter settling down along a sunny river bank to paint a scene.
Despite the distracting scenary, Dan made it to Villandry. The trail returns to the Loire River at Villandry.
As you can see from the picture, the bike was a Trek bike, quite similar to Dan's new bike, except it had 24 gears and no clips or stirrups.
There was a sign to the Chateau, down a lane lined with trees. At the end of the lane there was a picnic ground and shops. To the left is the Chateau. The Chateau is behind Dan in the photo.
There was an ice cream store with water and of course ice cream!
The next leg of the journey was the along the river bank trail. This leads to La chapelle-aux-Naux with its restored harbor.Perhaps this is where the traditional vessels berth.
To the left is a scene from the river Loire. If it looks familiar perhaps it's because Dan's mother Olive has an oil painting of something quite similar to this that her parents bought when they were on sabbatical in France.
Finally to Brehemont. At this point Dan left the trail, turing west to Azay-le-Rideau, where he got lost and couldn't find the connecting road. The rental didn't come with a GPS.
So back to Lure with a northeast turn to Lignieres-de-Touraine to meet the trail back at la Chapelle-aud-Naux and return to Tours.
All in all the round trip was about 111 kilometers. Humm how many miles is that ?
About 69 miles! Pretty good for a trip through a park.
