Day 35 ORLEANS 08.09.2022

Today we are heading back, not to Berlin, but to the starting point of our bike tour. Our Wilde Hilde is also waiting for us in Tour, or so we hope. So after the typical breakfast at the hotel, we didn't have to go far to the train station. The train was supposed to leave at 10:35 a.m. and we were very punctual. We immediately noticed that there were quite a few police officers in the waiting area of the train station. Waiting passengers were approached and when I was outside smoking a cigarette, it got even stranger: even more police officers were on the move and first sent away the taxis that were in a long queue in front of the building. Then a passerby was stopped by plainclothes police officers, patted down on the spot, and had to empty his papers and bags. Civilian vehicles with drivers who looked dynamic were driving back and forth on the square, and even more police officers arrived, but this time of higher rank, as I could tell from the reaction of the others. Now Karin also discovered police officers armed with machine guns in the hall and a man adorned with tinsel/medals rushing to the platform underpass. However, we had to catch our train, which was already there, and couldn't follow the further course of events at the train station. Maybe I can find a clue on the internet as to who was expected in Angers.

In any case, we were sitting in the punctual train, had no problems with the bikes, and enjoyed the calm ride. The train was following our bike route for the most part, and we could easily trace the stops and the associated places and exchange memories. Nice! In Tours, we knew our way around and it only took us less than 10 minutes from the train station to Hilde. Our beauty was unharmed in the old spot, waiting for our repacking operation. So we unloaded the suitcases and bags onto the small strip of grass and then transferred everything from the bike bags. This here and that there, and all of it twice and..., of course, now again in sunny weather and pleasant temperatures. After that, we took a break in the hotel's own garden, which we had already enjoyed a week ago, and fortified ourselves. The way to the bike shop also posed no problems, just like the return.

Karin skillfully directed us out of the city and soon the navigation system informed us that there were still 107 km to Orleans on this road. We gladly paid the toll of €15.50 at the exit, as we had a very relaxed ride with a new part of our exciting audio drama. Driving in Orleans was not so easy, but Karin still guided me to the accommodation. This type of accommodation is also new to us: several floors in the Conference Center are designed as rental rooms or apartments and are managed by a reception downstairs. A young lady handed us an envelope with the room key and that was it. Karin had already received the door code for the entrance door via Booking.com. Parking is also a challenge here, so we were very happy that we could leave the car nearby under trees in an official parking lot. Strange time allocation for parking and we are satisfied with an €8 day ticket that ends at 9:00 a.m. Since our room also has a small kitchenette, we immediately went shopping, after all, we wanted to eat and drink something. Soon we were sitting or lying comfortably on the bed and Netflix's Crown was our evening program. None of us had any idea that the real Queen Elizabeth II would actually die today!?