We were up before our alarm on Sunday morning as it was once again hot and noisy. We through the last of our belongings into our suitcases and walked down to the taxi stand on the Champs Elyeese. The taxi Gods were smiling on us and a minivan cab pulled up to take all 5 of us and all of our luggage. Navigating the Guar Austlitz was challenging but we managed and soon were on our way to our meeting place in St Pierre de Corp.
We spotted other travelers with Backroads Teniers and knew we were in the right place. Onto a bus to shuttle to our starting point, a picnic lunch, a tour of a chateau and we are on our way. Devlin's bike is too big for her and she spends her first day riding in the van. She is thrilled. Arrive at the hotel and jump in the pool. We feel sorry for the other guests as the 14 kids in our group were loud. Dinner is spent getting to know our fellow group members and enjoying excellent food and wine. Off to bed by 10:30 as we have an early start tomorrow.
Day 2 in the Loire Valley is looking like a hot one. Bill and the boys get moving on their bikes and I stick with Devlin. She whine some but keeps pedaling and completes 14 miles. We pull in later than the rest of the group, but we are proud of her for gutting it out. We tour Chateau Chambourd, were unfortunately no free samples are given, and then we meet the rest of the group for lunch. The food is excellent, but even in the shade it is sweltering. After lunch the kids load into a van to shuttle to their afternoon activities. The adults climb back on their bikes. At the first rest stop a few of us decide that we are done. The heat is simply too much to bear. In addition my ulnar nerve is acting up. second rest stop another joins us in the van. We get back to our hotel to see the tail end of the kids' fencing lesson. The are all happy and loved the experience. Devlin beat a fifteen year old boy. Mack beat Liam by one point. Back to our rooms to shower and dress followed by another excellent dinner. Devlin is in her glory, in the midst of a group of teenage girls all doting upon her. The boys have befriended Jacob, a ten year old boy from New Jersey. The other adults in the group are fun to talk to and we are loving the trip leaders. The Loire Valley is beautiful, like a land out of a fairy tale. Fields of wheat and sunflowers, and of course vineyards.
Day 3. Today it is Bill's turn to ride with Devlin and I am with the boys. It is fun to ride T a faster pace. I do still have to remind myself to slow down some. The morning ride is a bit over 15 miles and hillier than we have ridden the last two days. Thankfully the temperature has dropped some. We arrive at chateau chaumond sur-Loire around 11:30. The boys friend Jacob joins us for the tour and afterwards lunch. The kids leave after lunch to go to the Fantasy Forest Adventure Park. Once again the parents get back on the road. The stRt option is shorter today, only another 10 miles. Only two people choose to do the extended option, the rest of us head into the village for a glass of wine. What a lovely day.
This evening all of the kids head to a pizzeria for dinn while the adults get a child-free evening. This will be our first since leaving Chicao 10 days ago. Excited? Who? Us?
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