Bob K wrote:I hope you are bringing home the recipe for the Rosette de Lyon
I sure would like to because it is on my "to do" list, but unfortunately my high school French is not good enough to wangle the recipe from one of the craftsmen here. Sure would be great to spend a few days working with these guys. Everything They make is just superb!
Butterbean wrote:Looks like a great trip. I once had the opportunity to be an exchange student in France but I chose not to go because of a blue-eyed sweet thing. I would have lived with a baker and his family and worked in their shop for a summer so I could hone up on the French language. Oh how I regret not doing this especially when I see things like this.
The baked goods here are are also a dream. When we cycle through the small village there often is no commercial establishments but there is always a bakery with fresh and usually still warm breads for sale. Working in one of these bakeries would have been a great experience. But hey, you could still come here! We are a couple of geezers managing to find our way around with little French. And the the French have actually changed, they are friendly, helpful and so many now speak English. Wonderful country and so different in their approach to life than our North American ways.
Cabonaia wrote:Redzed - did you have any andouillette? I was there a couple years ago and choked some down. Had to try it, but concluded that it was the first sausage I wouldn't have twice.
So far I have not tried it, but it is on almost every restaurant's menu as an appetizer. I am willing to try it and it can't be all that bad since it is so popular here. And I do like beef tripe dishes so this is somewhat related.
Today we are in a small town called Beaugency on the Loire. After 12 days of cycling and 542km we took a day off because it's raining cats and dogs. So I have a bit of time to spend on the net and catch up on things. We have seen a ton of interesting things, there is no way better than from a bicycle! Below are are a few pics from past few days.
Cycled through miles and miles of vinyards. Grapes are ripening and harvest has begun.
Very slick combine strips the grapes off the vines perfectly. And I thought they do pick by hand!
We bought some fantastic truffle flavoured cheese from these guys
Decisions, decisions decisions!
Display at a tomato festival
Our transportation
Chateau at Villandry
Heading toward Le Château d`Ussé
Hope you will post pics of your new addition, always great to have nice place to work in. Thanks for the complement on the photos. I have always had that wanderlust in me and to date have visited 81 countries. You are fortunate in having been able to hike in Nepal. That is a place that we had intentions to travel but never made it. I have a friend who has been there a couple of times and he describes it as an incredible place with mountain views that are unmatched by anything else in the world. Unfortunately, I haven't been doing any serious hikes for almost 2 years, although my wife still goes backpacking in the mountains each year. Will have to stick to pedalling, and we are planning another cycling trip in Europe next year. 
