Bike: Beaugency to Maslives, 16 miles 365 feet of climb
Walk: 1 mile
Taxi: 1 mile
Accommodation: Hotel la Clef des Chateaux (https://www.hotel-la-clef-des-chateaux.fr/); standard family room with one double bed and two single beds, in an 1850s building, a/c and wifi, no breakfast, no pool. The hotel was being renovated. We had a two-story suite with no fans and an a/c unit that was cobbled together. It was very warm and stuffy, but a nice clean room.
Ken, Konur, and I had a beautiful ride along the Loire River, mostly through farmland. By the time we reached our hotel in Maslives, it was really hot. We dropped off our bikes and bags, grabbed hats and backpacks and water bottles, and hiked the remaining mile to Chateau de Chambord, the largest chateau on the river.
While we were biking, Meghan was training and busing. When we arrived at the chateau, she was sitting at a café in the shade and had already bought us all cold drinks. We ordered and ate lunch before touring the chateau.
At 16:00, we had tickets to the Horse and Birds of Prey show on the chateau grounds. It was great fun, and gave us a nice rest in a shaded gallery.
We all voted to splurge on a taxi for the trip back to our hotel. We made it back just in time to buy food for a picnic supper at the bakery next door. Showers, food, and bed. The bike tour routine.
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| We passed a power plant along the way. |
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| Ken and Konur holding up the Chateau de Chambord. |
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| The chateau grounds were filled with picnickers. |
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| The heat was a little much for all of us. |
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| The chateau is famous for its double-helix staircase. |
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| Renaissance architecture gives the rooms a spacious and luxurious feel. |
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| A modern art installation filled one of the galleries. |
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| Meghan and Konur took one branch of the staircase, Ken and I took the other--and we greeted each other across the center opening at each turning. |
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| Ken introduced himself to two of the actors before the horses and birds show. |
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We all enjoyed the show.
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