Orléans on the Loire
France Stage 04 – Montargis to Orléans 74 Km (Tue 12 June 2018)
Weather: 12⁰C min – 20⁰C max, overcast, rain showers
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
Breakfast took a little longer than planned because I spent ages talking to a nice couple of cyclists from New Mexico who, like me, had started in Paris headed southward. It is always good to talk to other bike tourers and swap stories.
Again I had changed my route to favour minor roads like the Ru Du Chambon (D961) rather than the official Les Route de Pèlerins. Good move … for the first half of the trip riding on excellent car free, people free, country roads was an absolute joy, passing through densely-wooded forests, open fields of corn, wheat and legumes. But what I enjoyed most was the lovely little villages with neat and tidy houses surrounded by well-kept gardens featuring trees such as conifers and silver birch.
At the half way mark I found myself riding along the shoulder of the very busy D2060 for about 10 Km, but it was safe enough and enabled me to make up time for my late start.
Weather forecasts here are not to be trusted. Having tried a couple of other apps I switched to Meteo France, the official bureau of meteorology site, but even they got it wrong. According to the forecast today was meant to be showery all day, but happily I managed to escape getting wet for the first 70 Km before some light rain for the last 4 Km.
Orléans, the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, is an interesting city on the banks of the Loire River. Joan of Arc famously saved the city from an English siege in 1429, an event celebrated annually with a festival. Another reason I hasten to mention I am Australian whenever I meet a French person!
Tomorrow I am looking forward to heading west along the well known and popular La Loire à Vélo route which follows the Loire River as far as Nantes. Apparently the Loire Valley is amazing with all its castles and other points of interest. Here is where my Tour de France really starts!
You are now in a truly beautiful part of France Kevin. I spent a lot of time many years ago in Orleans when I worked for a company with a factory near there, it’s very nice. I’m not sure what route you plan to take from here but I can highly recommend Blois, Tours, Poitiers and La Rochelle. Bon voyage!
I am looking forward to five more days of riding along the Loire before heading north to Roscoff. The towns I will be staying at are Blois, Tours, Saumur, Angers, Ancenis and Nantes. If the riding is as good as today then I am in for a treat!
There was a phenomenal light show on the exterior of the cathedral in Orleans last year. Check it out at night. Also too bad you aren’t staying the night in Passau. A beautiful medieval city on the river.
Oops. Never mind about Passau. Getting my river cycling confused. That’s on the Danube.
I agree with you about Passau. I started my Danube ride there in 2012.
Orleans is a magnificent town.
Happy riding a and hope there is no rain
Yay for the diminishing rain! Love the horse & buggy 🙂
The rain is back with a vengeance today but there is nothing I can do but just accept it. Never mind!