Biking Day 18
- Length ridden: 90 km
- Ascent: 200 meters
- Rating: 6.5 out of 10 - due to the grey weather, not my favorite day
- Highlights: Dreux was great, plus the RV in the evening
- Lowlight: once again would have preferred better weather
- Map of the day
This day marked the opening day of the Paris Olympics 2024 - and I was not too far from the capital city. Almost the entire day, there was a fighter jet patrolling above my head - not that it disturbed, but it was an interesting phenomenon.
Bernard offered me a breakfast (thanks again!) and despite the light drizzle, I was packed up and ready to go at 8 am.
Soon I got to Beville-le-Comte, with a wonderful church. In front of the church was a small fruit stand, where I filled up my vitamin supplies.
From there, an hour or so later, I got to Champseru, with yet another beautiful church.
It was a very nice road, going through some forests an I saw yet another castle, this one firmly in private hands, the entry was blocked off by a huge fence, however, there was full view from the bridge above a small river.
Saint-Piat was the name of the following village, it looked very medieval and very French.
The next cultural heritage that day was Chateau de Maintenon, the construction of which stated in the 13th century. It is best known as being the private residence of the second spouse of Louis XIV, Madame de Maintenon.
Not all too far, in Pierres, was an interesting church to be seen.
In Lormaye, this construction is called Tour de Piroli.
Dear Reader, I can imagine that this does not sound all too exciting - me mentioning small places, of no special significance. However, riding there, seeing something pretty every few kilometers had a special feeling to it, something I have not experienced this intensively before. Yeah, the weather was not the brightest, but I was curious after each sight what would be the next one. Here I am by far not including all my photos, just the ones I assume might appeal to you.
Somewhat of more significance was the next small town called Nogent-le-Roi. It has preserved much evidence of its past, as shown by the typical timber-framed houses standing around the charming church.
Just look at the small terrace on the last picture...
If I was impressed by Nogent-le-Roi, all the more impressive was the city of Dreux, with a wonderful church and a downtown, where you think you are 500 years back in time, seeing all the timber-framed houses.
On top of a hill within the city lies the Royal Domain of Dreux, where on the the remains of a Medieval fortress a chapel was built overlooking the town. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, it was closed.
I was very much impressed by Dreux - once again a place where it would be - or would have been - prudent spending a day or two. For dinner, I had some French taco's, served by a Pakistani guy - who was really happy when I spoke to him in his language, it earned me a free drink 😃.
Somewhere after Dreux, unnoticed by me, I crossed into Normandy. There were small settlements I rode through in the evening, called Muzy and Marcilly-sur-Eure). I decided to stop biking at around 10:00 pm at a place called Ézy-sur-Eure. It had been a wet day, and was sure not to find a roof above my head, so I was pretty much expecting to get wet at night as well. I found a municipal campground, where a hippie-looking caretaker welcomed me that night. I mentioned I was not very happy pitching my tent on wet grass, he smiled and told he had a recreational vehicle (a camping car), which he would rent to me for just €10. I went for it and it was great (except for a bit of a special odor, but I did get used to it). The nice thing was that I did not have to unpack at night, pack in the morning and did need to get wet at all.
That day, I rode about 90 kilometers.