Paris to Montargis

Wok and Sam still with us and earning their keep as crew members extraordinary..

17th July,,,Left Paris heading for Montargis on the Seine, and then Canal de Loing down to Briare.  Weather still averaging 32-36 degrees each day…..

A quick trip up the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower to see the sights, and then we turned around and headed out of Paris up stream.

Melun saw us eating on quay side under              the trees as it was just too hot,                             with Wok,Sam,Bill & Min.

From Montargis Wok & Sam headed off to Orleans to visit their daughter-in-laws’ parents, and we followed in hire car the next day. Stayed in a authentic old gite in the small little town of St-Aignan for 2 nights to allow us the visit some Chateaux on the Loire.

LOIRE VALLEY.   We visited 3 totally different chateaux.                                              Firstly-- CHATEAU de CHENONCEAU. Initially built  in 1515-21, and for the next 400 yrs the main protagonists were women, royal wives,mistresses and queens. Felt like a grand house with relatively small rooms and of course amazing gardens.

And so onto CHATEAU de CHAMBORD.  in 1518 Francois 1 erased the original small castle of the Counts of Blois to build this sumptuous place from which he could hunt in the forests nearby. Leonardo da Vinci did the original plan that got changed many times, using up all the treasury money, so much so that when his sons were kidnapped in Spain, he didn’t have money to pay,,,, but the work went on.!!!  In his enthusiasm the King proposed to divert the river Loire so it should flow before the Chateau, but the enormity of this task the smaller river Cosson was chosen instead.    This Chateau was more like a grand old castle, in amazing condition, (so much restoration is still being done.) Huge cavanous rooms, circular stairways and corridors all in a white solid stone, walls ceilings etc…, and then the fussy little towers added to the roof line. Again beautiful landscaped gardens….

And  finally FONTAINEBLEAU.  the resplendent 1900 room once housed tenants and guests that were the creme de la creme of French royalty and aristocracy. Scrumptious, rich, over the top, with the grandly decorated apartments, every square centimetre of wall and ceiling space is richly adorned with wood panelling, gilded carvings, frescoes, tapestries and paintings.

Back to KIWI ROSE in Montargis, with Bill christening his 4 yr old ‘New’ BBq,

The onto Briare where we said a fond farewell to Wok and Sam who now embark on the next stage of their holiday. We had a great time with them and had lots of laughs, food and fun.

We will stay in Briare for a while and then move on. Weather still up in the 34-38 most days, so need electricity ,shade (which we don’t get till the evening) and lots of fans… You need to keep hydrated (and not with alcohol) and that’s a feat in itself, but electrolyte sports powders seem the answer.

OR to keep cool, a tree, a cold wet tea towel and feet in a bowl of water.