Up early, I was able to start riding before the persistent rain started. For over an hour the rain came down but I was prepared. Rain jacket and pants combined with a fist full of pastries allowed me to enjoy the experience.

Once in the country, the rain gave way to dry, but cloudy skies. Villages of farms had farmhouses as old as the land. So many differing periods of construction allowed for an endless combination of building compositions.

My-post camp ride, earliest so far, let me get to Chateau Saumur before it closed.  Built in 962, the enormous castle has had a rich history. Built for fortification, it even has narrow slits in the walls for archers to shoot arrows at intruders from a protected position.

Gathering items for dinner, I purchased some sausage and vegetables and even breached my cheese comfort zone at a specialty store. I still can’t wrap my head around a lot of what I see.