The rides

We did two cycle rides on our short break, both on relatively flat terrain along waterways.  We started both of them from the big lock on the canal that runs alongside the Loire, marked by the pointer on the map below.  There is a hotel there (The Auberge du Pont Canal) that serves seriously strong coffee to get you going in the morning, and after one of these, we set off.

The first ride was northwards along the Loire as far as Marseilles-les-Aubigny, and the second one was eastwards along the canal that parallels the Loire, as far as Chevenon.  Each one was about 17Km each way.   Google maps seems to scale the map according to the size of your reading device - you might need to enlarge it.

I find it quite impressive how well-maintained these cycle tracks are - the surface is smooth, not quite as smooth as a metalled road, but pretty good, and well signposted.

We passed a very quaint looking restaurant in Aubigny, but unfortunately it was shut.  I hope that the bowl of cherries they left out was intended as an apology; the ones I tried were very nice.   We rode on and had lunch in the nearby marina on the canal.  I particularly liked the sculpture of the mariner at the wheel of a boat.