Today was an easy rest day. I let Aidan sleep until after 8. We walked across the bridge to the town center and got some coffee/chocolat and a pastry. The bakery had some decent bread products but the coffee came out of a machine. Self-service with the coins the guy gave me after I paid by card. I am surprised the French use these machines so much. The coffee from them is not good.
Back at out sketchy overpriced hotel we packed up and hit the road. Our bikes were in a store room on the first floor. I like having them in the room but this seemed safe enough. Aidan didn't want me to publish my bad review on booking.com last night for fear the bikes would disappear.
We took it easy on an overcast day riding first beside the Loire and then inland to a small village where we hoped to find some lunch. The only place open was not serving food and only the bar was open. At least I got a decent cafe and Aidan finally got a good chocolat.
As we were getting back on the bikes a group riding Penny Farthings went by. There is a reason bikes don't look like that anymore! We passed them and it looked like a lot of work.
Soon we were back beside the Loire and a giant castle came into view. It was Château de Sully-sur-Loire. Very impressive. It's good to be the king.
Actually this wasn't a king place. We read some of the history and Joan d'Arc and Voltaire stopped by. Unfortunately, closed Mondays.
We needed lunch but lunch ends at 2 and it was 2:05. We had a decent pizza and chicken wings at a pizza place that served until 2:30. This no eating after two or before 7 is going to take some planning to work with.
Our hotel is La Closeraie and it is excellent but anything would look good after last night. We got the "sleeps 4" family room and it is really nice to spread out.
The whole town is walkable in about 3 minutes from the Chateau to the hotel which are on opposite sides of the commercial area.
We had dinner at the Castle Tavern and it was pretty good but mostly they have burgers and variations on burgers. I've had too many burgers in France. Burgers seem to be the predominant non-fancy food. The French Fries in general don't seems as good as a few years ago, as well.
France seems far more "American" than last time I was here. Different regions than last time so that be part of it. I suspect some of the change was accelerated by COVID. People are doing takeaway from restaurants and there don't seem to be as many restaurants - especially compared to Spain. There just seem to be fewer people out and about.
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