Heading back into our hotel we were happy to meet fellow bike tourists we greeted yesterday. An elderly couple from Oxford, he's 82 years old and she's a young 'un in her 70's. They are riding the same route we are, just slower! He has nerve damage in his leg so uses a walking stick to walk, and an electric bike to ride! What an inspiring couple!
The route today was a short and easy 33km designed to be recovery ride after 2 days of longer cycling. But before we left we needed some chain cleaning and lubrication after the dusty rides past two days! Only with folding bikes can you do this in the comfort of your hotel bathroom!
On the way out of Chartres we stopped at a small shop to buy drinks and a Croque Monsieur (grilled cheese sandwich) with chips.
Just before this we had spotted a lovely spot next to a stream, yet still in the city. We took our sandwich there for a simple lunch.
A family of ducks came swimming by, so we gave them some of yesterday's leftover baguette that we had been keeping for a time such as this.
Departing on a full stomach, Ivan had a little trouble at first finding the bike path on the map. The delay took just a few minutes then we were off!
On the way out of Chartres we traced the same stream along which we entered yesterday. This time it revealed a stash of paddle-boats that you could rent for a river trip! For the umpteenth time we said, "If the kids were here..."
The city park was beautiful, with smooth child-friendly paths that flanked a school and plenty of wide open spaces.
Horses were everywhere. We even passed a place called Poneyland - what a sweet name! Of course it made us think of our daughter who loves horses. It also made us think of Wilmore, Kentucky and the good times spent there. In fact, many of the horse trailers we see around France have a Kentucky brand on them!
Soon we left the city behind us, traversing tree-lined paths that shaded us along the way.
It was a perfect temperature at that time, but it began to get warmer when we lost the shade and sun came out. By late in the ride it would go up to a surprising 26 deg C for this time of the year.
I have been reading all these bike-tour blogs with equipment lists, and no-one has mentioned a selfie-stick. People talk about cameras but not a good phone camera on the end of a selfie-stick with a Bluetooth button on handle. How else could you get interesting shots like this one? It also made taking "regular" photos easier too as I could whip out the phone and press just one button to turn on the camera and snap the picture.
The bike paths flanked a highway for a short period. You could see small towns in the far distance, making you feel like you were on an epic long-distance ride, yet within 15-20 minutes you would pass through that town.
The first town we passed through had lovely modern houses and lots of children's toys in the backyards. In the centre if every town was an old church and this one was no exception.
We stopped at a boulangerie-patisserre right next to the church for drinks. Renata parked her bike and took up one car park space! It seemed to be the only shop open in the town centre.
Leaving the town, freshly harvested corn fields marked our progress.
In the distance you could see the next town, another small cluster of houses with another church at the centre. While the church building is of course very old, the homes seemed to be much more modern than what we had passed through yesterday.
We rolled onward through 3-4 such towns, a surprisingly large number given that we only rode less than 35 km today. In other words, you get surprising variety in the short distances you ride in France. I now understand why Europe is such a favoured destination for cycling.
Finally, just before it got too warm, and while we were thinking of ice-cream, we rolled into Illiers-Combray. Though famous for the home of poet Marcel Proust, we were more interested first in InterMarche, the local supermarket, where we bought fruit, juice, a small tub of Haagen Daz, and a bloc of foie gras that would soon grace a baguette in the near future.
We parked and locked our bikes in the convenient covered bike park outside...
...and took our bags in with us. The double-decker basket trolleys were apparently tailored to fit Brompton T-Bags!
With our stash tucked in our bags we plotted the address of Hotel Les Auberpines, a quaint abode near the railway station. Renata trundled up the final slope with gratitude to have arrived.
Here we are, ready to rest and wash up. Tonight, Ivan will take Renata to the best restaurant in town - this one! Cos the only other dining place here is pizza. I wonder where Marcel Proust ate while he wrote his poetry here.
The rustic garden setting, white wine and mousse du foie gras was a great way to start dinner.
I was curious what French curry chicken would be like. Certain that it was nothing like our versions in Singapore, but perhaps akin to Japanese curry I gave it a whirl.
Interesting...while smooth and tender, I think the Japanese, Indian, and Malay curries are still better in their own ways! We're enjoying a relaxing night and psyching ourselves for slightly more hills tomorrow on the way to Nogent Le Rotrou.
Our GPS Track today: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/585942489
Lovely pics guys. And that old couple you met, I can see you two doing similar in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteSeeing the pics of the country towns makes me think back to the Allied advance during WWII. haha