As we cycled the Loire this  Spring, we were carefully watching for which bits of the Loire a Velo might be the most pleasant and interesting for the kids. We concluded that  Blois to Angers is actually the heart of the matter, with the greatest density of chateaus, troglodyte cliffs, and historic cities. Our only misgiving was that this leaves out Orleans, which is Jeanne d'Arc central, but then again we did not find the cycle from Orleans to Blois to be especially stellar.

On the stretch we have chosen, there are five chateaus that we think would be particularly interesting. These are Chambord, the dramatically styled hunting lodge made of tuffeau and with so many towers; Rigny Usse - the prototypical Sleeping Beauty castle, Villandry - with its gorgeous gardens; Angers - with its 17 round towers, and Clos Luce - where Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last years.  Also, in the vicinity of Turquant (near Saumur), there are tuffeau cliffs that have been dug out into houses, wine cellars, and the one we rather like - large caves for growing mushrooms and snails. There is a restaurant there that we can maybe hit. Also in the cliffs there there are caves with ovens that were and are used for drying apples. The apples are not sliced but rather are tapped flat as they dry. There is a restaurant there too that we maybe could try.

There we have the plan with Josh and the kids  about 14 days, from near Blois, cycling down to Angers, and returning to Nantes to fly out. Once the kids have flown out the Grampies will spin on our heels and head north, though eventually ending in Spain.