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Published: September 2nd 2013
It turns out that the LAST car of the train is generally reserved for bicycles. Thus, we disembarked about 300 feet from the actual train station. After Bill determined that there were NO CARTS, he decided that the time had come to assemble the bikes...which he was able to do in the hot sun in approximately one hour.
It was clear as we clipped on our panniers, and fastened the bags that had carried the panniers, and balanced the boxes on the handle bars, that we had far too much luggage. We left the boxes as close to where the trash was supposedly supposed to be, and called our first SERVAS host: Annie. It turns out that Annie actually lives in a suburb of Tours and she didn't have a car, which we didn't understand until she showed up on her bike, which immediately told me that I was going to have to start riding, sooner rather than later!
Her bicycle shop was close by and to her amazement didn't charge for the air for our tires! We walked the bikes to the nearest telephone shop and I stood guard while she and Bill negotiated for two cell phones and unlimited coverage. The shop told us that the phones are good anywhere in the world that has SIM cards (which is NOT the United States but every other place in the world), so we will keep them for future (hopefully) trips.
But, I finally had to get on the bike. WAY too heavy for me but I wobbled and stayed far behind Bill & Annie. Thank goodness for well marked bike lanes and car drivers that were pleasant cheerful. But she had to walk up the last hill (so did I) and then we were at her home. We were still awake at 9 p.m. after a wonderful soup and salad dinner, but then we crashed for the next 13 hours!
Since Annie is a well-seasoned traveler (her son is a Delta pilot), she understood and when we awoke, she was ready with maps and suggestions...we decided to walk to the ancient city center without her and would bicycle with her to Villandry the next day.
Dinner was a beautiful quiche lorraine! and then bed....
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DeWitt
non-member comment
Congratulations!
Congratulations for launching yourselves and thanks for sharing your experiences and impressions! Remember: you are never lost; you are simply exploring.