Days 4-7

 In the chateau at Amboise
(You may find this a surprise)
The body of famous artist
Leonardo Da Vinci lies.

Angers to Amboise: 165kms

We are averaging +/- 50 kms per day without getting too precise. The icy weather has continued, but so has the spectacular scenery en route. Stunning trails have passed through beautiful villages draped with wisteria, troglodyte cave houses, vineyards and landscapes peppered with châteaux.

It is impossible to list everything, so instead I will tell you about some important things...like our culinary delights.
We free-camped at an AIRE (site for camper van's to service their water systems), and it happened to be right next to a microbrewery. Their special "Tina" beer made our staple diet of couscous and hot vegetable stew, (AKA gruel), taste even more delicious.

 The sad tale of Fritz the elephant

Fritz was a circus elephant in the 19th century. On 11/6/1902, (which also happens to be my birthday - not the 1902 bit), on his way to the railway station in Tours, he became dangerous and his owners had to shoot him. He was 80 years old.
In 1977 the town made this lifesize model in his memory. Poor Fritz.

Outside Fritz's memorial stands the humongous Cedar of Lebanon tree. Now, man-made structures can be very impressive indeed, but what nature can create is truly amazing. This photo does not do it's size any justice.

Amboise is the resting place of Leonardo Da Vinci. So here he is, in bronze...resting