Loire Day

The Loire, conjuring images of rolling vineyards interspersed with Chateaux by the dozen. .. and today is the day.  We are going to ride along the river for most of the day moving closer then away until we end up in Fontevraud l'Abbaye for the night.
There is a great air of anticipation ,tempered a little by the long straight road ahead and the also anticipated heat of the day. Our riding takes us through farming land and woodlands and villages with historic churches and chateaux in sight, glimpsed through woods or not seen at all. A string of villages along the river proudly proclaim they are "sans pesticides". Good for them.
Great treat today at the cafe in Brissace-Quincé when I asked for a Cafe Crema (a double espresso with hot milk on the side) only to be asked if I  wanted a flat white or latte! Not only was it a good flat white but it had art on the top. Quelle surprise - you see how well I  speak the local language now.
We have a plan for lunch, by the local mushroom museum.  Wow. There are hundreds and hundreds of mushroom samples encased in resin and lots of information about the edible and the toxic ones, which I  won't remember. As I don't often go mushrooming I am reliant on my local supplier to have that sorted. Deeper and deeper into the cave I go, observing various methods of growing mushrooms. There are trays of experimental cultures and dozens of rectanular hangers resembling bird feeders in the Salle des Shitakes. Some of the 'shrooms are decidedly weird and it is cold down there (40Farenheit) so back to the warmth and the bike.
At the end of the ride our hotel is lovely,  right next to the Abbey that gives the town its name. It is too late to see it but tomorrow is a shorter ride so perhaps in the morning.  Roses abound and the scent is delightful - as it has been through several stretches of the ride.  Another day down,  another good beer,  a good dinner and a good sleep to look forward to.