Summer is Here

The cherry trees are still blooming in Amboise. It was a hilly diversion, but we'll worth the effort. As we came into town there was a sign explaining that the area, which has been occupied for over 2,000 years, had originally one of the largest Roman settlements in the area, called an oppidum. The ramparts stretch

 quite a ways along the river and are still quite visible. 

These ramparts were built in the 11th century. That seems quite old even if much newer that the Roman wall. 

We enjoyed discovering an Alexander Calder sculpture as we turned off the path toward town. A lot of you might know, Calder was a favorite of my mom's, so we had to stop for a photo. 

The Calder was just across the path from this fun Max Ernst fountain, Aux Cracheurs, Aux Drôles, Au Genie or To the Spits, to the Funny and a Genie. Amboise has a long history but also some unexpected contemporary art. 

We were having so much fun in Amboise that we decided to make it a tourism day. We lingered over patisseries and cappacinos and basked in the sun (with appropriate SPF). We a shortened ride plan we wandered around Amboise. 

Amboise is the chateau where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last years and is interred. 

The town itself is charming too. 

This street was almost entirely lined with patisseries.    

The morning sun was just getting strong when we rolled back to the Loire for a bit of tent drying. The park we found had sunny tables on which we dried the tents in a flash. 

Then we were back on the bikes toward Tours. The path out if town looked like this. 

We passed wine caves in Loussault-sur-Loire. Mo suggested there may have been cheese caves too, but we were pedaling uphill so there was no stopping. 

We saw lots of old cars today including this 1963 Citroen Ami. 

It was the guys from the radio show Click and Clack that said, "The French, copying no one and copied by noone.". So true. 

By the afternoon, it was warm enough that we were glad to ride through the forest again. The weather has made a dramatic change. 

Our short day including going through Tours with it's spectular cathedral. We relaxed in the adjacent square to ponder cathedral building and time itself. 

Much of the structure is under scaffolding but it is still stunning. Everywhere you look you see beautiful architecture. I especially like this roof with a curved corner. 

It turned out that the bistro near our campsite was only open for lunch. We ventured into Saint Aventin on foot and stopped in 3 shops to procure bread, wine and cheese. We got Morbier since it was what our dad often chose and Tomme de Vache since it had Tom's name and we had tried it last year in Strasbourg. 

All in all, a lovely day enjoying the sights and savoring the French food along the way. The La Loire à Velo route has much to recommend it.