Stairway in hotel grand Abbaye. Our room was two story and overlooked the Loire. Very cool. Nuns were here for 600 years. The staff were so friendly and wonderful to all if us. Everyone in France, to a person, has been super friendly and nice, including in Paris. Not a single snobby Frenchman in sight.

First day of riding was eventful and fun. After spending a couple of hours on DIY bike prep, we rode off toward Beaugency. Along the way, we got lost for a little while, had some rain (a downpour actually) and some sun, pumped up a flat tire, stopped at a playground and generally enjoyed the thrill of the self-reliance on the open road. River was beautiful. Beaugency was lovely, the hotel was in a beautiful 1000 year old abbey. Great dinner that lasted until ...