We are enjoying our train ride from Paris to Orleans. Little did we know that I had left my credit card in a cafe in Gare Austerlitz back in Paris. Bye bye card! Fortunately, I realized it quickly when I bought food in Orleans. Dear Robin did not say a single cross word about it (got to love that guy.). Jane figured out how to call the bank because I could figure it out. And, after 20 years of our paying annual fees, the bank graciously agreed to mail a new ...

JAne and Dylan working on the France history quiz for kids on the train to Orleans. This is the greatest parenting moment ever for julie and Val. Kids eagerly completing a history quiz. OMG!!!!!

Kat and Maggie on the train doing Art on the way to Orleans to start our bike tour. We all three families wound up on the same late train for different reasons.

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 ...