Day 5 - Tours to Chambord

Sorry I didn't post yesterday but our hotel didn't have wifi (internet). To be honest it was nice to have a night off. So here it is 11:30 at night on our last day and Mike is snoring in the bed beside me. Don't get me wrong I'm very happy about that - it was a lot of pressure navigating us motley crew for 6 days, finally he can sleep peacefully. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start on Day 5. And what a day it was!!!

We started extra early because we had a lot of miles to cover - 57 miles in total! After a little hiccup at the beginning (we lost Graham in the Tours morning rush hour traffic) we were speeding along. The sun was bright but not yet sizzling and by 11 a.m. we had cycled 30 miles. I for one, was sure we were going to reach Chambord by lunch. Oh, by the way, I was feeling a lot better (except for a frustrating cough). I'm so glad I had most of Day 4 off the bike, not only did Trish and I see the fabulous gardens of Villandry (go if you ever get a chance) but our biking friends really suffered in the hot sun, they looked like I felt.  

Where was I? Ah, yes Day 5 - so we were racing along, smiles on our faces, winds at our backs, Loire at our side. We stopped at Amboise for a shot of coffee and I found more cycling Canadians to swap bike tales with. After a couple of mercis and au revoirs we cycled off, all puffed up with our own cleverness and then ... 

Steve's neck turned into a hot poker and he could hardly turn his pedals, Mike's head began pounding and the paracetamol he secretly took (Mike didn't want anyone to worry) gave no relief. We cycled into a national forest only to find the cycle route signs broken off their posts and lying in the dirt. Most of our water bottles were empty with nowhere to fill them up. And that's when the sun turned up the flame and fried us. Oh - one last thing - Trish called and said she had a flat tyre and was stuck in a car park somewhere, so there was no one coming to save us. In fact our support driver now needed our support!

I know I'm drawing the drama with thick strokes but this was no balmy day at the beach. Mike told us which forest path he thought we should follow, but no one paid any attention (we're a shameful lot). Then a single car drove up blowing dust in its tracks. I flagged down the driver and after a brief discussion about his wonderful 6 week holiday in Canada, he told us the way to get out (of course it was the way Mike said).

We melted into Blois, where Trish stood by our lame bus. Now this is where men come in handy - fixing big metal things. Personally, if something is bigger than me and could crush me I don't fix it, but some people (read: men) think nothing of slithering under a 2 ton metal bus balanced on 3 corners. Crazy, but thankfully they're willing. So while the bus surgeons worked on the patient, a few of us cycled into town to get sandwiches and cold drinks.

Two hours later the bus surgery was successful, our tummys and water bottles were full and it was time to head back on to the steaming tarmac. Steve called it a day and put his bike and behind in the bus. Derek would have cycled with us but he was needed to help Trish find a new tyre in a local Speedy (or Kwikfit or whatever they call it here).

As soon as we reached the Chateau Chambord all the travails of the day were forgotten (for me at least). The chateau is breathtaking - hand on heart! And our hotel, Hotel St Michel, is only metres away!! The chateau is surrounded by 52 sq. km. of parkland and our hotel is the only one on the grounds, so once the chateau closes and the tourists leave its just us and the chateau (plus a few hundred deer and wild boar).

Everyone slumped into chairs for beer but I raced to the chateau to catch the last 30 minutes of opening time. It was glorious! Chambord is the biggest chateau on the Loire and the architecture is stunning - especially the roof (which is where I spent almost all of the short time I had). There are dozens of mismatch but intricate chimney pots and turrets. There is an amazing double helix staircase designed by Da Vinci. I didn't see much of the rooms (there are over 400) but I'm not so crazy about old velvet bedspreads and worn carpets.

That night we had the best meal (or second best in some people's opinion) on the whole trip. This day was a wild mix of the best and the worst. And there is just one more cycle day to go!!

Starting the day as happy bunnys.

The chateau in Amboise

Me and wine press

Gorgeous.

Amboise for coffee

On to our last map of the trip!!

Liz doing her very best neck massage.

Hugh tries to put Brian out of his, no I mean, our misery.

Asessing the patient's condition.

Nikki apprentices as future bus surgeon.

Graham, Liz, Hugh and I went for sandwiches while the rest
were stuck under the van.

Finally we arrive at Chambord!!

Da Vinci designed the fabulous double helix staircast in the chateau

This the top Da Vinci staircase on the roof.

Climbing the staircase. You can probably tell I really liked it.

A ceiling in one of the 400 rooms of Chambord.

The view from our hotel room.

I love him to bit.

The chateau just begs for romantic photos.

The day's troubles fade after a shower and beer.

Derek and Trish doing the Chambord Hug.

Nikki found stables on the grounds and was getting to know
one of the horses when she was asked to leave. It seems
she and Joe went into private stables - too bad because
look at them - there's a real bond forming here.

Nevermind the chateau Brian has found his favourite thing.

I know I'm obsessed.

Trish helps Steve feel better :)

Ain't she pretty.