View Day Five - 81 Km's in a larger map
5/9/2009 13 – 33 degrees Moderate head wind.
7:15 AM start to beat the heat. It was a good ride out of town on well planned and graded bike paths (brand new) through old slate quarries - an interesting, though rough, ride along a canal path. We decided that we should have pulled a small boat we had spotted, which was attached to a rope across the canal, and crossed on that (since confirmed). This oversight caused us a bit of a detour onto a busy N road. Ken fell over again.
As it turned out, it was a great ride along the Loire, up close and personal. We had coffee at about 25 kms and then crossed the river. We then got off the busy road and onto peaceful sheltered lanes (out of the wind) and bike paths, with beautiful trees and green, green fields. Lots of serious cyclists as well as tourers were out today.
Fruit from a small market on the out skirts of Saumur and more coffee helped to fill in time, as the hotel rooms weren't ready yet. It was a nice ride along the waterfront into the centre of town.
Ken and Des graciously said I could take the first room ready, then had to wait an hour for their rooms. I was very grateful, as my body was stuffed. I lay on the bed for ages, too knackered to shower. Finally showered and did my washing and ventured out for food, a quick bite and then back for more rest. We bought quiches and juice for breakfast as we wanted an early start the next day. The temperature was expected to be 31 degrees, and we had an 81 km ride.
Ken and Des had a very productive afternoon tasting some of Saumur's best sparkling wines. There was a two day food, wine and dance event on, with people everywhere having a great time.
We had a pleasant dinner at a brasserie, and talked to a couple of Norwegian chaps who were doing a 7000kms driving trip over 3 weeks, not at all phased by the distances involved (a bit like here). The brasserie overlooked the big event, and was rocking. The staff were getting into the music and were very cheerful, having a glass of Saumur bubbles on the side.
After dinner we had a couple of tastes and Des managed to talk one of the winemakers into giving him his event tee shirt, the cheeky bugger! I retired early.
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