TGV bike-loading method--stuff 'em in | in a train
In front of the Gare de l'est, ready to head across Paris | Paris
Notre Dame from Pont d'Austerlitz | Paris
St. Vincent de Paul church | Blois
Drinking my first glass of wine on the plaza in front of the Château | Blois
Views from the garden next to the Château | Blois
I walked down to the riverbed and stuck my fingers in the Loire | Blois
Stairs leading up to the cathedral | Blois
The cathedral in the beautiful evening light | Blois
First day on the road, heading north out of Blois along the Loire | la Chauseée-St.-Victor
First day on the road, heading north out of Blois along the Loire | Cour-sur-Loire
These were the first of the rather few cows I saw along the way. | Cour-sur-Loire
These two guys looked like good friends. | Cour-sur-Loire
My first of many Loire crossings | Muides-sur-Loire
The Loire at Muides-sur-Loire | Muides-sur-Loire
What a spot for a picnic! | Chambord
It's a rather large abode. | Chambord
This forest has very thick undergrowth--lots of ferns. But as there was not air moving, it was still hot. | Chambord
The best Coke I've ever tasted! | Bracieux
Château de Blois | Blois
Francis I's porcupines were all over | Blois
Blois Château - the bike packed and ready to go for the day | Blois
Blois Château | Blois
The steps leading up to the Château | Blois
Signage in the forest near Blois | Forêt Domaniale de Russy
The gardens at Beauregard were truly lovely - all the more so because I was alone there and they were so peaceful | Cellettes
My faithful carrier | Cellettes
The ever-so-crowded Château de Cheverny | Cheverny
The doggies were so sweet - I even got my hand nuzzled and licked | Cheverny
Cheverny also boasted a lovely flower / vegetable garden | Cheverny
Cornfields near the Forêt de Cheverny | Cheverny
I had a brief glimpse of Château de Troussay | Chitenay
Farms around Cheverny | Chitenay
Classic view of old Blois from the "new" side of town | Blois
It was so late and I was so hungry, I went to practically the first restaurant I saw and ordered poulet frites and beer(s). Hit the spot perfectly! | Blois
I stopped at this sweet little bakery on the way out of town. | Blois
Somewhere near Chailles, outside of Blois | Chailles
Beautiful little Candé-sur-Beuvron | Candé-sur-Beuvron
A snack stop | Candé-sur-Beuvron
The bike path was so deeply rutted I had to walk for a bit | Candé-sur-Beuvron
At Château de Chaumont | Chaumont sur Loire
I enjoyed the details | Chaumont sur Loire
Lookin' down (up?) the Loire | Chaumont sur Loire
The stables at Chaumont | Chaumont sur Loire
I found it sweet that they had a pet graveyard with headstones for the family dogs and elephant (!) | Chaumont sur Loire
At Chaumont there was an interesting exposition featuring many different "artistic" garden installations | Chaumont sur Loire
I may not look like much of a hill, but at 100 degrees and no shade, it was daunting | Mosnes
I stood in the shadow of one of these houses and got my gumption up for the task ahead | Mosnes
I had to walk about half way, but I made it to the top! | Mosnes
Lots of vineyards | Mosnes
Scenes around Amboise | Amboise
Tasty dinner at the restaurant right autside the Château in Blois | Blois
Just a taste of the artfully-done Son et Lumière in Blois | Blois
Anne de Bretagne, what a sweet hotel! | Blois
Wandering around Blois on my last morning there | Blois
These plaques were on the mayor's office building | Blois
The fleur du lys were all over town | Blois
Wandering through the Cathedral's gardens | Blois
The cat was simply lying relaxed in the sun until this bird appeared... | Blois
Streets next to the Cathedral | Blois
Blois Cathedral | Blois
A simple but divine lunch - heavenly melon | Blois
The site of the previous evening's dinner | Blois
On the train to Tours | Onzain
The cathedral in Tours | Tours
Place Plumereau | Tours
First dinner in Tours | Tours
Tour de Charlemagne | Tours
St. Martin's Basilica | Tours
There were lots of these "Share the Road" signs | Tours
Looking ahead was the forest, behind me the corn fields | Tours
The gardens at Château de Villandry | Villandry
What I loved especially about Villandry were the family photographs scattered around and the sense that it was a home | Villandry
I stopped for a visit at the petrified grottos - tacky but interesting | Savonnières
The Cher at Savonnières | Savonnières
Wildflowers nxt to the corn fields | Tours
Scenes along the river Cher | Tours
Public art (???) | Tours
The train station in Tours is rather grand | Tours
First glimpse of Saumur | Saumur
In Saumur | Saumur
Château de Saumur | Saumur
Saumur | Saumur
Stopped in at the Abbey just outside of Saumur | Saumur
Troglodyte caves in Parnay | Turquant
I thought the street was cute, then I ended up having lunch here | Montsoreau
Lunch was tasty | Montsoreau
The view with lunch | Montsoreau
More road art... | Candes-St. Martin
Scarecrows! | Savigny-en-Véron
Overall, I rode through these picturesque farms | Savigny-en-Véron
Scenes in Chinon | Chinon
This playful guy was guarding the doors | Chinon
I liked this farm so much I photographed it going both directions | Savigny-en-Véron
Lots of wineries in the area | Savigny-en-Véron
Yard art | Savigny-en-Véron
At the Saturday morning flower market in Tours | Tours
At the Saturday farmer's market in Tours | Tours
In Les Halle, the market hall in Tours | Tours
The Loire at Tours - visitors from Florida??? | Tours
Inside the cathedral, Tours | Tours
I was feeling a bit peckish so I stopped at a boulangerie for sustenance | Tours
Once again, pique-nique extraordinaire! | Langeais
And this was the view from my picnic | Langeais
Neatly bundled grains | Bréhémont
My final château of the week, Azay le Rideau | Azay le Rideau
My last Loire crossing of the week - the bridge at Langeais | Langeais
When I got back into Langeais they were preparing for an evening arts & crafts fair | Langeais
Saw this great old stove as I was walking through the Sunday morning flea market in Tours | Tours
Ready to board the train in Tours | Tours
Biking along the Seine - fabulous! | Paris
I rode right up to the Madeline | Paris
Turned a corner and this was the view | Paris
Made it safely through Paris to the Gare de l'est | Paris
Two bullet-fast vehicles | Paris
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