Joining the source of the Loire River by bike.

“Let’s cycle across France to join the source of the Loire River!”

Why and for what, was never really clear. We wanted to cycle, and we needed some sort of a destination. And following a river kind of makes sense, to me.
Following it against the stream even more. Because the water would get clearer and cleaner every day, getting closer to its source (that’s what I thought).

We left once in April to complete that part of the journey. But ended up on the other side of the country and back at the beginning.

After a break we left again. This time we also have some long-term destinations we might reach or might not. But in any case, we didn’t forget about this idea, to join the source of Frances most wild river (at least that’s what everyone told us).

It’s already been a few weeks, that I am back on the bike, cycling through France. And I just realized today that I still haven’t wrote anything about it. I think mostly because it is a bit difficult to find the time and energy to write and cycle.

Every time we take a break, I am exhausted. And just feel like chilling or eating.
But I really enjoy writing about everything (or at least some of the things) I see, think or pass through. So, I decided to take times for breaks, when I am not yet exhausted.

Voilà.

We followed the river. At first, we were delighted by flat cycling roads along canals and the actual Loire River.

Big river benches and sand beaches made us think, that traveling by canoe would be pretty cool too. Maybe another time.

Eventually the straight roads start to feel like bike-motorways though, we get slightly bored and wish for some tracks or mountains.

Be careful what you wish for. Because we got that too, even more than we would have liked.

Cycling up the mountains in the rain, after a day of what felt like carrying the bikes more than you ride them.

Getting invited by strangers just when you need it the most, searching for shelter from the rain under a roof that is barely wide enough for two.

Lovely food, all along the way.

No chance for croissant and coffee will be missed.

Beautiful scenic train tracks, out of use and converted into cycling and walking paths. Wild cherries.

The river stayed brownish until the end though. For the last bit we left it, to cross the mountains on another route that will join us with the source.

And then we did it. We reached the source.