Ira Follows the Tour - Rest Day

After a long flight from LA to Paris, Gary picked me up at the airport and brought me to his home in Tours. Tours is located about 1.5 hours from Paris At the junction of the Loire and Cher Rivers, Tours is a busy university town and the traditional point of departure for exploring the Loire Valley. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the great pilgrimage sites of Europe. Today, the city boasts wonderful Renaissance and neo-classical mansions, which are clustered around the famous Plumereau square, fine museums including a collection of craftsmen's masterpieces and the Cathedral of St-Gatien. Famous wine region, especially Vouvray, Chinon, Bourgueil... The most interesting sites in the Surrounding area are the châteaux of Azay-IeRideau, which reflects on the river, Villandry, surrounded by Renaissance gardens, Ussé, said to be the original Sleeping Beauty's castle, Langeais and Loches, as well as the splendid medieval city of Chinon.

After getting to Gary's house, I spent the day recovering from the long flight and had a great dinner of BBQ'd duck breast and fresh string beans and salad and local wine - lots of wine. After sleeping like a baby, Gary and I met Gary's father-in-law, Daniel and a neighbor and rode from Tours down the river valley and explored the local vineyards including the vouvray region which is a sweet white wine. We rode along the loire river and through winding roads and vineyards - very cool. During the ride, Gary's neighbors bike frame broke in half about 5 kilometers from home and Gary had to go back an pick him up. Tomorrow, we head out for the first day following the Tour as today is a rest day. We'll head out via car to our final destination which will be about 20 miles from the finish. We'll ride to the finish, watch the sprint into town, then ride back to our car - thats the plan....but you know what often happens to plans. More tomorrow.