In Chinon

 We are in Chinon. Lorie Loire says that she is in heaven because she is with me. Wait, no, because she is in Cabernet Franc heartland.

We have essentially no internet tonight but will catch up tomorrow when we're in Tours, a biggish town about 50 miles from here. Meanwhile, we will leave you with one picture of the results of a wonderful day, a cab franc aged in terracotta vats for 3 to 5 years. Unbelievably yummy for less than 10 euro. Note the label: from vines planted in 1900, and wines made by 5 generations of family vingerons who all wore similar hats and who all had big noses (gros nez). Pretty charming:

Saumur is just a few shakes of a lamb's tail from Chinon. Unbelievable how good the wine is.

A demain. Passe une merveilleuse journée et soirée.

OK, it is now Friday and we are in Tours, having ridden here from our campground in Chinon. But we have big city-fast internet so I can update things.

The ride yesterday from our campground in Doue-en-Anjou our campground in Chinon was really nice. We rode quiet little country lanes that leave room for maybe a car and one really loaded bike. There were flowers and crops and vineyards and wineries all along the way. The one that we stopped at had been in the family for 5 generations (all with funny chapeau and pointy, big noses, so Camille, the woman who tasted wine with us informed us). Here's what Lorie Loire had to taste:

A sampling of their offerings

And these, too...

After that the ride was just a delight. 

Lots of wineries to visit, if you're inclined. Maybe if you visit them all, you will be inclined.

The vignerons say that the 2023 crop is looking good, as they wring their hands in worry...

There is always a lot of tending to do.

We crossed the Vienne river just upstream of the confluence with the Loire

The confluence of the Vienne and the Loire

The last 10 km into Chinon were a bit rough, and we had to dodge some hay trucks, but we made it OK.

 

Maybe he can deliver to Camp Sherman?

The crown of the road was the smoothest part.

Chinon is absolutely charming. There is an old fortress up on the hill, and a nice village along the riverfront. We were tired after setting up our tent, so we decided to not ride up to the fortress. But we took photos.

From near our campsite, Chinon.

The fortress

There are a lot of half-timbered buildings from the mid 8th century

Gelato was appropriate.

Yum.

We decided to stop by a grocery and get food to make at the campsite. Very simple sandwiches, but we needed nothing more. When we got back to the campsite we found that there was a big bird nest directly above us and the birds were pooping all over the tent. Dang,

Dinner

Poop!

We needed a distraction. It was still early and who wants to watch birds poo on your tent? So we walked back to the campsite HQ and they had a wine tasting. Two lovely vignerons, Annick and Francis Audebert, were serving their wines. They were delicious and we couldn't walk away without supporting them, so we bought a nice 2020 cab franc.

Annick and Francis

Visit Chinon if you have the chance. It is beautiful.