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DISTANCE: 64 k/39.6 mi; TIME: 3h 23m; AV: 13.9 kph/11.7 mph; ODO: 447.9 k
This morning Madame Ragu produced lots of different breads with marmalade and butter. There was also the choice of red jam and vanilla yoghurt. She made hot water, so that I could brew my own fruit tea. After breakfast I “saddled up” and said my goodbyes. There had been snow over-night at St. Prest and the morning was bitterly cold.PHOTOS:My journey over the plateau between St. Prest and Chartres was interesting as the cathedral became visible ahead of me. It seemed to rise slowly out of the ground! Once I was in Chartres, I could see that the cathedral stood on a hill of its own, with the old town around it. The stained glass was magnificent, but you really need a sunny day to see it at its best. Madame Ragu said the same to me yesterday.
After buying a book and looking around inside and out, I went to a Salon de Thé to warm up. Whilst drinking a Thé du Menthe, I read the book I had bought and discovered that there was a window covering the life of St. James. I went back to the cathedral and found the window. Although it is in good condition (having been cleaned in 1995), I could not make out all of the scenes. I asked at the cathedral for a stamp, but I was directed to the souvenir shop opposite the South door. I got my stamp, and then had lunch next door to the shop at “La Reine de Sab...”
I then set out for Voves; by intuition initially, because it was not signed. Careful map reading helped. The Beauce is mainly flat (just a few undulations), but with the wind behind me, I flew! It was only 2:30 pm at Voves, so decided to continue to Artenay. At Viabon a huge black cloud was approaching, so I dived into a stone bus shelter, set in a wall, complete with my bike! It saved me a very cold soaking, because the shower was a mixture of sleet and snow. After that the sun came out. I did much the same thing at Poupry, but this time it was a canopy outside a closed restaurant.
In Artenay I tried to find the hotel “Relais de Artenay,” but it was not in the town centre. I assumed that it was on the main road, the N20. Instead I booked into the “AS ** Hôtel.” It was a typical French chain hotel. The facilities were adequate, with food geared to families with children. Madame, at reception, kindly arranged for my bike to go in their cave (actually a ground floor storeroom) where they keep the booze! After sorting out my maps and my cycle computer, and taking a bath, I went to dinner in the restaurant.
Chartres Cathedral - West Door
La Beauce
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