on the road again

Well, make that, on the path again.  As spring is unfolding here, cycle tourists have begun to arrive in their usual large numbers.  This section of the area's cycling super highway (Loire à Velo) runs right through central Amboise.  Normally, the path is asphalt but along this short section it is a stone extension of the levee seen in the lower left.  The Loire river is off to the right.  So come join the crowds "that are goin' places they've never been, seein' things they may never see again".  (Tip of the hat to Willie.)

the path of snow

It'll be awhile before this bike path is again filled with cycle tourists that will arrive in spring.  This snowy day I had it all to myself.

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.

the portal

Like a green gateway, these two trees along my recently discovered bike path seem to invite you to enter into a land of blue skies and white clouds.

into the forest

Riding along this path that cuts across the forest of Amboise is perfect on a hot summer's day.  It's mostly shaded and totally quiet.  It's just one part of a wide network of cycling routes and paths throughout the area.  And this has turned into a major tourist attraction for the Loire valley.

on the path

Here's another one of my favorite walking paths along the banks of the Loire.

CDP Theme Day - where I belong

The first of every month is Theme Day for the bloggers of City Daily Photo, and today the theme is "where I belong".  Click here to see how it was interpreted by the other bloggers.  For me, where I belong is cycling alongside the Loire on a warm, sunny day.

on the road again

While ADP is now up and running again, I'm still confined to walking for a while longer (read explanation here).  Even so, I've learned to enjoy seeing my usual running routes at a slower pace and finding photo ops that I would have otherwise zoomed by.

This path encircles the Ile d'Or and is one of my favorite routes.  It was a beautiful day in early February when I snapped this shot on one of my long walks.  And even though it was mid-day, those shadows suggest just how low the sun is here in winter.

deep in the woods

On a bike ride several weeks ago, I passed through sections of the forest of Amboise.  You may remember one of the entrances that I posted earlier. Well, pedaling deep into another section I came upon this mostly wooden structure in the area where there are two "twin" lakes.  There is no indication as to what is its purpose, but it seems more like a barn than a house.  In any case, I found the rough wooden facade to be unusual and interesting.

the road not enough travelled

This road is of course my usual bike path that courses along the banks of the Loire river.  It's especially beautiful at this time of year.

stopping to smell the flowers

That's just what I did on this sunny day in May along the bike trail in Amboise.

the backroad

Even when there is not a bike path, there are many backroads in the area like this.  There's very little traffic and the scenery through the many vineyards is wonderful.

first bike ride of the year

It's been an extraordinarily busy year for me so this was the first real venture out.  It was a beautiful day and the locust trees were in magnificent full bloom.

une promenade d'hiver

Here's the bike path in Amboise in winter.  Still a great place to take a ride or walk on a sunny winter's day.

la nouvelle piste cyclable

I found this new section of a hiking/cycling trail just last week.  It meanders along wooded areas and open fields alike.  I had it all to myself on this sunny autumn afternoon.

the swing tree revisited

Here's a recent shot of a tree I first posted in May of last year before it leafed out (see it here).  In this edition, a couple of bike riders appeared on the scene at just the right time.

If you appreciate the idea of returning to the same scene in all seasons and in all kinds of weather then you'll really enjoy this slideshow by one of my fellow City Daily Photo bloggers in Sweden.  He has posted about 400 shots of the same wonderful old tree over nearly a decade.  It's a fascinating study by a very talented photographer.

And finally, lest anyone thinks I forgot that it's Halloween, here's another revisit of a shot I posted earlier this year that I think captures the spirit.

curves

Riding on a new bike route (for me) last weekend, I discovered these nice curves of vineyard, hedge, grass, and roadway.

comin' around the bend

One more photo from the Orléans to Amboise bike ride.  That corn is long gone by now.  And for this week, it seems also those blue skies.

Blois

On Tuesday I went for a 10-hour bike ride with some of my neighbors in Amboise... 112 KM / 70 miles along the Loire river from Orléans to Amboise (we took the train to Orléans in the morning).  Needless to say, I am still recovering as I have not been riding anywhere near that distance for many years.  Anyway, I did get a few snaps that I'll be posting starting with this one of the city of Blois.  That's the cathédral Saint-Louis de Blois in the center.  Most of the ride was on either bike trails or roads with very little traffic.  Bike tourism has developed into a major commercial resource for this area and I can see why.

the new bike path

A new section of the bike path network opened recently and it was instantly one of my favorites.  While this section cuts through open fields, the majority of it crosses the forest of Amboise.  Riding for kilometers under the forest canopy is wonderful on a hot summer day.