The final stage of our descent of the Vienne was, agriculturally speaking, like a walk through the garden of Eden. The rich alluvial plains beside the river supported crops of all kinds, at the height of their summer abundance – wheat, sunflowers and vines being the most conspicuous. This same inexhaustibly fertile soil would have supported thousands of years of earlier inhabitants, who had left traces in the form of crumbling châteaux, bridges, windmills and Roman roads.
Fortunately, the rain of Chatellerault did not continue and the weather was sunny all the way to the Loire. We had beautiful camping grounds, pleasant breaks for coffee along the route and delicious restaurant meals every night, except at les Ormes, where we starved because everything was closed for Bastlle Day.
Day 26: Châtellerault to les Ormes
Day 27: Les Ormes to L’Île-Bouchard
Day 28: L’Île-Bouchard to Chinon
Day 29: Chinon to Montsoreau