Very heavy rain in the night and still precipitous this morning. The gloomy grey does not bode well for our intended visit to Chateau Ambois so we set off to drive north. The only sign of life was the dog who barked half heartedly this morning.
The long straight roads are shiny with rain and the continuous convoy of trucks throws up lots of spray, but the northern sky lightens as we drive.
Ninety minutes later we take the roundabout into Chateaudun, a town we visited very briefly with Andy and Suzy last autumn and decided then it was worth a proper stopover.
We have a belated breakfast of coffee and pain aux chocolat and do some tidying and maintenance.
Early afternoon the sun pops out so Ali goes for a recce of the chateau, on the basis that if it is wheelchair friendly we can go for a full visit later or tomorrow and if it isn’t the Ali can take a good look around while Nick is warm and content in the van.
It turns out to be not easy access so Ali pays the €6 entry and goes for a visit, accompanied by four other Brits who are in the aire but on their way to Spain.
The chateau’s origins date from the 10th century but its mainly gothic structure was contructed 11th to 13th centuries. Ali particularly enjoyed the tapestry room where large panels of bright needlework decorate the walls. Ali has only been back in the van for five minutes when the rain starts again.
The roads up to the town centre are steep and cobbled, and having parked in the centre last time and seen what’s there, we decide we probably won’t make another day of it here tomorrow, but it has been lovely to have a restful day after quite a few busy days.
The evening becomes sunny and breezy, hopefully a good sign for our plans for tomorrow.