August 3, 2017
Chartres: Horrendous head winds all day
We had stayed in the same hotel in St Arnoult 6 or 7 years ago. Then the present owners a delightful gay couple had told us the wonderful plans they had for the place. Now 6 years later so much had been done. Our room was not only comfortable but charming. The food absolutely delicious and served with flair
Our target today was Chartres and we had been concerned about possible head wind. The sky was overcast and the very strong wind in our faces all day. Ken says he was in his low gear range all day and progress slow. The good thing was today our navigation was spot on and we didn't get lost once. This is not spectacular countryside basically it is plain, though Ken says it is up hill all of the way.. The extentsive wheat was all harvested and the corn cobs looked fat. Potatoes had all their foliage cut off and the sugar beet was well on its way.
At Aunneau we stopped for a well timed coffee. The heavens opened as we sheltered. We rather optamistically hoped this would make the wind abate but that wasn't to be. Coming across the cereal plains the spires of the wonderful cathederal can be seen from many miles away, it does however seem to take an awfully long time to get there.
We are staying at an Ibis Hotel fairly close to the Cathedral and will stay here again tomorrow so we can recover from what have been two very hard days and have time to explore this magnificent town
Today's ride: 51 km (32 miles)
Total: 113 km (70 miles)
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