day 6 continued-- the saga of the 23 km hike from Cour Cheverny to Cande Sue Mer

After leaving the Chateau de Troussay, Bill and Lin Sue continued the trek through woods and moors trying to make our way to the next Chateau in Fourgeres sur Bievre. At one point, our instructions told us to "walk the road for about 400 meters and turn right onto the second track". Small problem- there was only one track and it was located about 200meters from we were.

Dutifully, Bill and I walked to about 400 meters and saw what looked to be an irrigation ditch. We continued along the road for another 400 meters and saw nothing. Bill went down the ditch to see if it met up with anything (it WAS supposed to be the roadbed of a disused railwat line). Lin Sue waited on the side of the road until she could see only the tip of Bill's red baseball cap way off in the fields at which point, it was clear that Bill was committed to this path and she may was well join him. The ditch ended up joing the correct path. (Yes, the first one we saw located at 200 meters with the yellow markers). So, while a bit inconvenient and bewildering, not too bad. We made our way through the fields and forest and arrived at the Chateau de Fougeres. This is a small fortified catle from the 15th century. Wjile we didn't enter it, the grounds were very pretty. (Lin Sue was already exhausted.)

Oh, did I say that it was unseasonably hot and sunny? Bill and I both were very sunburned and dehydrated. We were immensely pleased to find water fountains to refill our water bottles.
More to come.....

Day 6 of Lin Sue and Bill's hike we travel 23 km from Cour Cheverny to Cande Sur Beuvron

The day started late but well. Our first stop was the Chateau de Troussay, a Renaissance manor house that has only been sold twice in its long life. Because the chateau did not open until 10:30, we did not get our normal early morning start.
The Chateau Troussay is also still occupied by the owners so only part of it is open to the public and only with a guide. The tours were conducted by 2 young girls but only in French. Because it was clear that Lin Sue did not speak French, the supervisor (so it appeared) offered to have one of the girls do a private tour for us in English.

While she struggled for some words in English, our guide did a very nice job. She gave us quite a few interesting details about the original Renaissance furniture and architecture. She was very sweet

Our biggest question came at the end of the tour when she left us alone in the house full of treasures (with our backpacks) as she went to provide the heavy entrance keys to her counterpart in the front of the house.

More to come.