Month: July 2011

Chinon is an ancient mediaeval town in the Loire Valley, and like most of these towns a fortified castle is on the hill. Where there is a hill there is a way to climb. Sharon took immediate control of the guide book so I had to follow while she told me about the Plantagenet King Henry IV and King John and Joan of Arc who were all here. The stone stairs in the towers wound up to the lookouts and then down again to the dungeons. All of this walking and me being aware I had to keep my fluids up whilst on holidays, led me to have quite an uncomfortable feeling in my lower regions. Fortunately, I noticed a sign that said “latrines” when walking down a dark stairway way below another fortified tower, only to discover the sign referred to a display of ancient toilets from the 9^th century. Do you know the feeling you get when you need to go then you realize that the opportunity is close, but you discover that the door is locked or you need to find 50 cents or the latrine is a part of some ancient fortification? This was one of those times.

Later, when we were leaving, I noticed a damp stain down the outside wall of the tower we had just visited. Perhaps they have a little trouble with damp in these parts of France?

We drove south along country roads through villages and forests. We stopped at a large chateau at Chambord when Sharon spied it through a long avenue of trees. On the road to Montrichard we were stopped at an intersection by a great line up of vehicles. Five helicopters were parked in a wheat field and police were on duty. Hundreds of people lined the road on either sides, some with tables and chairs. We had stumbled by accident onto Le Tour. I positioned myself on the side of the road on the bend, nearly a little too close, as when the riders came around the bend I could feel their breeze. There was a small breakaway then the pelaton stormed though, followed by a cavalcade of cars, then it was over. Sharon texted Tom to say we were on the side of the road in France waiting for the pelaton. Father was on the side of the road in a blue jumper. He was watching on TV and said he might have seen us from the helicopter as they rounded the bend.

We stumbled also on a B & B, an old farm house, outside Saint Quentin/Indrois. We are surrounded by farms growing wheat, the gardens and the hosts are lovely. Sharon had a chance to practice her French as Joel is totally French. She did a fine job.  Luckily Joel’s wife, Marie came home a bit later on and she spoke English quite well and we were able to communicate a little more.

The roads of Paris were safely negotiated. Thank you Garmin. However, we didn’t get far. After stopping for lunch in a small village and being surround by small children who had never seen or heard of people like us before, we decided to look around for a place to stay. We were only 75 km from Paris and found a small hotel in Malesherbes. We had couple of beers in a bar/lotto shop/tobacco shop/courier depot and a chat with the owner about who was going to win the World Cup rugby. He said the next beers would be gratis is the Wallabies won. What’s a wallaby he asked? He said, “Our emblem for the French team is Le Cock!”

The name of our hotel is Ecu de France.