Bicycle Trip - France, 2003

5/26/03 – Monday
0930 – Arrived on time in Paris – Plane unloaded quickly, and I followed the crowd to luggage pickup. My duffle bag arrived, and I headed downstairs one level to find an ATM and get some Euros. Then I asked for directions for the TGV, which was a mistake- I had seen a sign for the TGV and ignored my pre-trip plans to take the train to Montparnesse to get the TGV in Paris.

I was directed down stairs to the bus stop where I got the shuttle to the train station. I had to wait in the TGV ticket line to buy a ticket and bought one for 25.50 Euros (with a senior discount), but was told my best option was as I had originally planned, that is, buy a ticket to Paris on the RER, then catch the TGV to Tours. I had to stand in another line to buy that ticket (a little more than 2 Euros).

I finally got on the RER to Paris about 11:30 AM. After many stops, I got off at the Port Royal station, and decided to walk to Gare Montparnnesse, which turned out to be further than I expected, and I missed my train to Tours. I had to buy another ticket, which cost another 1.20 Euros with my old ticket.

Just a picture of the train (TGV) that I took from Paris to Tours. It was about an hours ride.

This is the shop where I rented my bike. The folks were very helpful, even loaning me a handelbar bag, toe-clips, patch kit and so on.

This is where I stayed for the first two nights in Tours - the Hotel Regina. The price was right (about 28 Euros) and the staff was friendly and helpful.

I got on the train and arrived in St. Pierrie at 3 PM, about one and a half hours later than if I had caught my original train. I took the commuter train to Tours, about 5 min. ride. I found Amstercycles, the shop where I had reserved a rental bike using their web site, almost next to the train station.

While they set up the bike (adjusting the seat height, adding toe straps, etc.) I walked the few blocks to the hotel I had put a deposit down on before I left, the Hotel Regina. I checked in, changed clothes, and went back to Amstercycles, now about 5 PM. I picked up the bike, and took ride through town to the river. When I stopped the kickstand broke off. So, I headed back to the shop, but got side tracked at the big cathedral, the Cathédrale St-Gatien.

A view of the West Facade of the Cathédrale St-Gatienin in Tours

A view of the inside

I took a few pictures, then on to the shop. Along the way, I found an Internet shop, and sent off an e-mail to let my wife know I had arrived safely. The keyboard was a French version, and my typing was painfully slow with my hunting and pecking keys. At the shop, I got wrapped up in talking about routes, and forgot to ask for a new kickstand, which turned out to be a bother, not having one, whenever I stopped somewhere.

Anyway, back to the hotel, now about 6:30 PM, where the proprietors let me park my bike in a locked covered courtyard area. The hotel was a little better than others I had found in Europe, since this one came with a washcloth and soap (a rarity) and even had a stopper in the sink – first class! I mapped out the next day’s route, and then I thought I’d take a nap, but the nap turned into a sleep. I woke about midnight when some noisy neighbors came in – the rooms had very thin walls – when an upstairs WC flushed, it sounded like everything was coming thorough my room. I finally went back to sleep about 2:30 AM.
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