Bicycle Trip
Loire Valley, France
May, 2003

This was a solo trip to bicycle in France, and see the Loire Valley chateaus. I made reservations on United Airlines in March for the later part of May, since that seemed to be a time when I've had good luck with the weather in Europe, the days were longer and the tourist season had really not yet gotten into full swing.

I did some research by buying the usual guide books, checking the internet (two good sources were Q. May's http://www.mayq.com/index.htm and Don LaVange's http://users.ids.net/~tandem/loire.htm web sites.), then made some hotel, hostel and bike rental arrangements via e-mail and the internet. I decided that since I wanted to spend a couple of days in Paris without added baggage, and I've had good luck in renting bikes, at least in Holland, I'd rent a bike once I got to Tours, which would be the epicenter of my tour of the Loire Valley.

As I've done in the past, I packed my panniers (which could convert into a backpack) and put them into an old army duffle bag, which I checked as luggage, and put camera, film and essentials into a small backpack that I carried onboard. I left the USA on Sunday, May 25th, via Chicago. And as is the norm these days, the plane was packed.

Day 1 - Arrival in Tours

Day 2 - Day Trip to Amboise and Chenonceaux

Jeanne de Arc Statue Day 3 - Tours to Azay-le-Rideau to Chinon

Chateau at Usse Day 4 - Chinon to Tours

Day 5 - Tours to Blois to Chambord

Day 5 - Chambord to Blois to Tours

Day 6 - Tours to Paris (Day 1)

Day 7 - Paris (Day 2)

Day 8 - Paris (Day 3)

Day 9 - Paris to Home

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18 July 2003