| Technical details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 06 March 2011 | ||||
| Stages | Blois, Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire, Muides-sur-Loire | ||||
| Crew | Shazen, Stoumik | ||||
| Forecast | Sunny and without clouds. Wind. | ||||
| Kms | 44.23 | ||||
| Time | 3h05:25 | ||||
| Average | 14.3 km/h | ||||
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On the road of the Loire by bike
For our return on the cycle paths in this new year, we have taken the direction of Muides-sur-Loire.We leave Blois as we most often do, following the trail that goes upstream the Loire toward Orléans.
Today, there’s a lot of wind and we’re unlucky to have it in our face. But well, we have to see the positive side of things, it will blow into our back when we return as we are making a round trip on the same path. Besides, the ducks on the Loire seem to have trouble as well, moving at a snail’s pace while trying to swim against the current.
Just after the Jacques Gabriel bridge, south bank, we stop to enjoy the panorama by this nice weather, before continuing our route.
We go on along the Loire on the “Loire by bike”cycle path, pedalling into the wind. But a Chatmouette doesn’t give up easily, even when he’s back after a long midwinter break.
Until the village of Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire situated at about 15 kilometres upstream of Blois, there isn’t a soul outside, only a few seagulls, swans, ducks, herons and of course 2 Chatmouettes.
In the area around the village, important unloading quay during the construction of Chambord in the old days, we can catch sight of Muides-sur-Loire bridge in the distance.
Will you be able to find Muides-sur-Loire bridge ?
We arrive a few kilometres later at Muides-sur-Loire after passing a few walkers on the path. Here is a bridge which constitutes an important crossing point in the route of the Loire by bike. Indeed, this is there that the bikers get from the south bank to the north bank.
That is why this bridge has undergone some development work in 2010 in order to widen the bikers fire lanes, and thus, to offer more security and comfort.
The bridge of Muides-sur-Loire
For the little story, the present bridge long of 330m unveiled in 1932, replace an old suspension bridge which was used from 1843 to 1931. A legend also tells that the architect of the present bridge made a mistake, and that one of the arch is lower than the others.
Perhaps, will you be able to check it on these pictures ?
View of the bridge from the bottom
This bridge, it's made of concrete !
A biker on the bridge
So we cross the bridge clutching our handlebars as the wind blow sideways. From there we have an atypical view of the Loire and we catch sight of Saint-Dyé-sur-Loire in the distance that we will cross again in a few minutes.
Once we get to the other bank, we make a U-turn and go back on the road of Blois but in the opposite direction this time.
With the help of the wind, in our back, we reach our destination quicker than on the outward journey and get into Blois the same way than when we left.
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