double your pleasure

 

blast off from the Loire

 

my three suns

 

With apologies to Fred MacMurry.

down by the river

 

the drought of 2022

 

As with the entire world, we too are suffering from the results of climate change.  We are having one of the hottest and driest Augusts ever.  This photo is underneath the bridge over the Loire river.  Normally, there would be water flowing through this section closest to the shore.  Other sections still have a trickle of water but you'd be hard pressed to pass through in a small boat or even a canoe. Businesses and private residences are under water use restrictions.  Agriculture, including the wine making industry, is taking a huge hit.  Fortunately, our region has not yet been hit with fires as have other regions in France. 

Saturday night fever

 

dark times

 

December on the Loire

 

black Friday

 

sunset on the Loire

reflecting on the Loire

...and on the Isle d'Or as well during this week of perfect weather.

the sunsets are back

After several years of a sunset "drought", they seem to be back this year, the good ones that is.

Noah's vacation ark

I've not seen a boat like this around here before but it's been moored up across from the Ile d'Or for awhile now.  A perfect parking place right at the foot of the château.

from Amboise, it's Saturday night

water under the bridge

Shot from bridge Leclerc over the Loire, this shows how shallow the waters are now as they flow under the arches.  Only kayaks and canoes can navigate this part of the river while at its Atlantic mouth sea-going tankers can pass under the great bridge at Saint-Nazaire.

poppies on the Loire

The poppies are in full bloom here and these down by the river Loire have the perfect view of it.

hats off to the Loire

The Friday and Sunday market space is right on the left bank of the Loire.  It's a great opportunity to get both in the same shot.

celebrating traditions on the banks of the Loire

the floating bridge

The Loire is very high at the moment as are other rivers in France due to all the recent rains.  This bicycle path bridge in Amboise looks to be floating on the surface as the path on either side is under water.

twilight on the Loire