Chinon is an imposing town. The fortress is at the top of a big hill and the town sits below it staggered down the steep slope. Although we though the approach from the backside was steep the front side was full of rough cobble stoned switchbacks, narrow streets. Our bike tires are a little too narrow so the ride is dangerous.
Halfway down there is an elevator that takes you down to the town center (we crammed our bikes on with two other people and thy got stuck because the doors opened on the opposite side at the bottoms so we went down then up then down all the while trying to arrange ourselves and then to squeeze out. A very polite British couple.
we promptly entered one of the busy cafe squares and ordered a glass of chinon wine ( Doug had beer), from the region and it was delicious. Because the camping was only about half a mile away an the day was beautiful and we were feeling pleased with ourselves we had coffees and took our time. Sometime around this we began seeing very vintage cars, some rare, some very expensive, some very old. Doug reminded me that there was a vintage spectacle for two days. Where people drive there cars around the area and then gathered in the Jean d'arc square.
We got our camp setup in a little private shady area. Then we rode back into the town center to walk through all the old cars lines up and then we rode in the twilight along the oldest streets where the medieval houses stand (timbered frames with carved columns and red brick).
we slept and decided to stay another day. Day two in chinon and I visited the fortress chateau. Significant because the French won it from the British. The British did well because of their yeoman archers making up for them being severely outnumbered. Also there was some not that the English defeated Wales and any Welshman who did not surrender had their middle finger cut off(crucial for an archer) which is apparently where the phrase "give them a finger", flipping someone off comes from.
We did some grocery shopping had a little more wine, went to look at cars again because there were more today, we also attempted some clothes shopping. But no luck. Let's see, I wandered into an artist's studio, picked up a good writing notebook, took pictures and generally relaxed into sightseeing mode. We wandered into a wine tasting inside a large and deep cave(pictures on the camera not my phone). There was a small group of people deep into wine speak, which we did not join, but we wandered back to the wine barrels and racks of bottles. The caves have chisel marks on the walls and still show fire/smoke residue on the ceiling. I believe These caves were also lived in by the troglodytes to have protection from wolves and bandits( The inhabitants tended to be farmers and inhabitants of the areas being quarried where chateaus were built.)
as usual we got interested in food about the time everyone closed (12-2) so we had coffee.
This is a beautiful area. We picked up a whole catalog of places for sale.
we hung out at a ganguette as the evening closed by the river with people and boats. Then back to camp for food and sleep. We had a big day planned next getting to Saumur in order to catch the last day of the fete de velo.
