Loire River Valley wine tour by bicycle

My girlfriends and I stayed at a Loire Valley Breaks, a cycling tour bed and breakfast place, outside of St. Nicholas de Bourgueil, in the heart of the Loire River Valley, and some of the best French wine country there is.

 What could go wrong with bikes, castles, and wine?  (Notice I’m the only one wearing a helmet.)

 

Thank goodness the French take safety seriously.  You aren’t allowed to be out after dark without one of these on… did I mention the no helmet thing?

 

 It’s okay, we took every moment on the bike seriously.

Thanks goodness, otherwise we never would have made it to the winery…

 

 

Or the castles…

And adventure awaits us...

Chateau de Villandry

I both love and freaked out a bit that we could sit at a table inside the castle and drink a bottle of wine we brought with us... in broad daylight!  Why don't I live in Europe?  They speak my language.

 











Chenoncaeau

The wine cellar of Chenoncaeau





And the fiver star restaurant on the grounds, but let's face it, I could have been *almost* as happy with wine and pie.

We rode a total of 115 miles through that region and over 1800 feet of climbing, hitting Samur, Langeis (and riding along the tour de France bike route), Villandry, Chenonceau (built and maintained by women) , Restigne, Bourgueil, and Montsoreau.  We had lots of great food, wine, adventures, and stories.  I’d highly recommend the place we stayed for all age groups.  When you go, tell Mark and Debbie I said hi. 

 

Until then, happy and safe riding.  Keep the rubber to the road.