16 June 2012 - Varennes-Sur-Loire

I have updated the last post with some photos if you are interested.

Yesterday we spent the morning helping Sue & Steve set up their stall in an arcade in Maidstone.  This time they were only selling their cold meats, sausages and cheeses as another stallholder stocks their range of preserves.

After lunch we headed out to a cottage buried half a mile down a rough track off a VERY narrow country lane to visit our old neighbours from Platts Heath, Peter & Margaret Culham.  They have a wonderful view across 20 miles of the Weald of Kent completely devoid of any sign of development apart from 2 distant houses and a TV mast 24 miles away.

We carried on to Wye to visit my 94 year old uncle who is in a rest home with dementia.  I was very impressed with the home - good staff and, for a change, it smelled really good.  My uncle is still in good health and quite rational, but cannot communicate easily.  We took him out for a brief walk up to the local windmill for a chance to see the countryside.

This morning we caught the Eurostar to Paris and picked up our lease car.  For half an hour we fought with the GPA which tried to get us to drive through non-existent roads trying to find a petrol station and even in a circuit of an underground carpark on the way to the motorway.

We finally found our way out of Paris and eventually, after navigating a series of VERY VERY narrow country roads, found our accommodation in an old farm near Varennes-Sur-Loire.  We then ventured out to Montsoreau, a town on the bank on the Loire, and had sparkling rose sitting on a terrace overlooking the river and the remains of the local château before dinner at a hotel (not a great experience).

Chateau at Montsoreau

Much warmer weather in France and looks good for the next few days.

Tomorrow we may head for Chinon.