Famous hiking route on the banks of the river, the Loire à Vélo is a great success this Ascension weekend, especially with many Parisians coming to enjoy the countryside, despite the rain, which took some by surprise. rental companies.
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The health situation is improving in France, with a decrease in hospitalizations and an improving vaccination rate, the milestone of 20 million people with at least a first injection against Covid-19 having been crossed on Saturday afternoon.
Under these conditions, offering yourself a relaxing stay sounds like a prelude to the reopening of the bar and restaurant terraces.
On this Ascension Bridge, many tourists have chosen to take advantage of the banks of the Loire, despite the capricious weather, to cycle along the river in the heart of one of the most beautiful countryside in France.
In the middle of nature ... between the raindrops
"We were overwhelmed. We did not see the number of people coming who wanted to clear their heads following the Covid", admits Cédric, manager of a bicycle rental store two minutes from Blois station.
He was robbed: "All my stock is gone, namely 70 bikes."
This trader claims to have never seen that.
"It is especially Parisians who need to breathe, to get out of this situation to enjoy the great outdoors" ... if not the good weather.
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A little further down, on the banks of the Loire, three friends passed between the drops for a two-hour stroll with the majestic Loire châteaux as a backdrop. "It smells of nature and it's been a long time since we experienced it," smiles one of the hikers. "We saw the vines and a gray heron", she enumerates. "We are refreshed. It was great, it feels good," concludes the young woman.