clairedavieswriter

Before my train to the coast this morning, there was time for a last bit of tourism, but when I asked Gloria Google for directions to Vieux Tours, she led me somewhere unexpected. Hugo was appalled.

But she did eventually find the pretty old town…

The intricately decorated cathedral…

And the so very French Hotel de Ville:

Then it was time to bid a final farewell to La Loire:

And head for the station, where the trains bore relatable messages (‘Thank you for choosing us, so that together we can burn less CO2’):

And I’m all for low carbon travel, but when it comes to speed, it’s really a case of ‘in your dreams, Bernard’.

A railway station might seem a surprising place for philosophical reflection, but this sign had me thinking about perspective. Could it be that in the UK our glass is half empty, while in France it’s à moitié plein?

Today Bernard was installed beside to two Australians who (perhaps counterintuitively) were new to this whole upside down thing, so he did his best to look nonchalant. The view helped take his mind off things.

From Caen there were just 15k to go, all but a few 100 metres of which were on our last stretch of voie verte:

Which was as relaxing as it looks, despite the stiff headwind.

As I write, Bernard is lashed to an athletic-looking stranger on the car deck. I do hope he doesn’t get seasick and disgrace himself.